Can I Change Car Battery Myself

mobile battery replacement

A dead car battery may feel like a major car breakdown. If car battery dies when you are on the road your only options are calling roadside assistance or getting a jump from a stranger using jumper cables. A jump start will get your car running again to get you home or to a repair shop.
If you have basic tools with you and a way to get to an auto parts store, you could replace your car battery yourself in just a couple of hours.

Replace car battery at home

Knowing how to change a car battery yourself will save you time and money. Is it cheaper to replace your own car battery? When you can replace car battery at home DIY, you will save the expense of a tow truck and also the cost of installation labor. As long a you take some basic precaution, changing car battery yourself can be completed in under an hour. Before you start here is a list of basic tools and supplies you’ll need.

  • New replacement battery
  • A socket wrench with 10, 11, 12, and 13 millimeter sockets
  • A socket extension
  • A wire brush
  • Work Gloves
  • Shop towel
  • Battery terminal cleaner and terminal protective spray

Before you start inspect the battery positive and negative connections. If you see corrosion around terminals, or rusty nuts on battery clamps you may need additional parts to complete battery replacement. Make sure you have necessary parts and tools at hand first before you start work.

TIP: Starting any repair a proper diagnosis is very important. Before you go out and buy a new battery you must be sure that bad battery is your problem why your car isn’t starting and not the starter or alternator. Read more about signs of a bad alternator.

1. How To Buy New Car Battery For Your Car

Determine what type of battery your vehicle is using. You can check owner’s manual or auto parts catalog to find the correct size, group and cold cranking amps (CCA) for your vehicle.

2. Turn Off The Vehicle and Put It In Park

Ensure your vehicle is in Park and emergency brake is set. Remove keys from ignition. If your vehicle has a wireless key – make sure it is located outside the vehicle.

3. How To Find Battery Location In The Vehicle

Locate the battery and identify positive and negative terminal connections. In some cars the battery may be located in the trunk or under seat. If you have trouble locating a battery consult the owner’s manual.

4. How To Disconnect Battery Cables Negative First

Disconnect battery cables. If you have doubt when connecting a car battery which terminal first always remove the negative terminal first when disconnecting car battery. Use a socket and a wrench to loosen nuts on the negative terminal first and remove it from the battery and set aside.
TIP: If negative cable tends to bend back and get close to the battery you can wrap it with a towel or use tape to prevent it accidentally make a contact with battery while you are working on other side. Loosen and remove positive terminal second. If your vehicle is using battery with side terminals the general steps of replacing battery will be the same or similar.

5. How To Remove Car Battery From Battery Tray

Using socket wrench and socket extension remove battery tie down bracket and remove battery from the tray. Most batteries are held down with over the top tie downs or a tie down bracket on the bottom edge. Tip: Keep your back straight when lifting battery out of the car – batteries are heavy full of lead and weigh around 40lb to 60lb.

6. How To Clean Corroded Battery Cables

If you have any corrosion or rust on battery terminals you need to clean them to ensure good connection and prevent future damage to battery cables. Use a wire brush to scrape flaky greenish crust from terminals and use battery cleaner spray or mixture of baking soda and water to neutralize any acid. Wipe and dry terminals before continuing. TIP: when cleaning corrosion don’t breathe in or get the dust on to your clothing and always wear gloves.

7. How To Install New Car Battery

If new battery came with plastic covers on battery posts, remove them before installation. Install battery in to the battery tray and secure it with tie down bracket or over the top tie down hooks. Try to move battery around in the tray to make sure it is secure and will stay in place when driving. You can apply anti-corrosion spray or gel to battery posts before reconnecting battery cables.

8. How To Attach Terminal Back To The Battery

When reconnecting the battery, always connect the Positive terminal first when reconnecting car battery. Attach positive terminal first to the positive post of the battery and tighten it with socket wrench. Secondly connect negative cable to the battery and secure it. Both battery terminal clamps have to be tight and could not wiggle if pried by hand. Reinstall any battery covers if there was any.

9. Start The Engine

Start the car and check dashboard for any warning lights. Lead batteries are fully recyclable, return old battery core to auto parts store to be recycled.

TIP: There a few extra steps you will need to do after changing car battery. Reset your automatic windows by lowering all the way down and close all the way up each window. Recalibrate your navigation and radio settings.