How to Replace Your Car Battery, by How To With Greg on YouTube. 9 min 14 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 14 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground, switch the engine off and let it cool. Put on safety glasses and gloves, since batteries contain acid and can release gas.
Open the bonnet and find the battery. Check which side the terminals sit on and note the negative one, marked minus or with a black cap.
Loosen the negative terminal clamp with a wrench and lift the cable off. Tuck it aside so it cannot spring back and touch the post.
Loosen and remove the positive terminal clamp the same way. Keep your wrench away from the bodywork while it is on the positive post.
Undo the hold-down bracket or clamp bolts that keep the battery in place, then lift the battery straight up and out by its carry handle.
Brush any corrosion off the tray and terminal clamps. A paste of baking soda and water neutralises acid crust, but rinse and dry it fully afterwards.
Lower the new battery in the same orientation, positive and negative posts matching the original. Refit and tighten the hold-down bracket.
Connect and tighten the positive clamp first, then the negative clamp. Give both a firm twist by hand to confirm they are tight and cannot move.
Start the engine and check the battery warning light goes out. Reset the clock and radio presets, then take the old battery to a parts store for recycling.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let a metal tool or a loose cable touch both terminals at once, as that causes a dangerous short.
Always disconnect the negative terminal first and reconnect it last, which is the safest order.
Lift the battery with your legs and keep it level so acid does not spill.
Match the group size and cold cranking amps to the old battery, or check the handbook for your car.
Questions
Which terminal do I disconnect first?
Always disconnect the negative terminal first, then the positive one. When fitting the new battery, connect the positive first and the negative last.
Will I lose my radio and clock settings?
Usually yes, unless you plug a memory saver into the cigarette lighter socket first. Most cars just need the clock and radio presets reset afterwards.
How do I know the battery is the problem and not the alternator?
If the engine cranks slowly or the lights dim and the battery is over four years old, it is likely the battery. A voltage test with a multimeter confirms it before you buy a new one.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
