Time to replace your car battery? This guide will show you how to do exactly that. There are a few things you should know beforehand but if you want to get stuck right into it, scroll down further for the step-by-step instructions on how to change your car battery.

Before you start

Dangers that come with changing a battery

It's important to know the risks of dealing with the electrical components within a vehicle as improper installation can sometimes lead to unwanted consequences.

Something as simple as putting the battery on backward can cause the fuse to blow out, this can lead to acid leakage from the battery and often leave the battery completely destroyed.

If you're unsure and would it installed professionally, talk to one of our battery experts to book a battery replacement.

Proceed with care

Batteries hold an electrical charge even when the vehicle is switched off, it is important to proceed with care when dealing with batteries. Old batteries also may contain cracks or corrosion around them, make sure that you have the correct protective equipment when dealing with a car battery.

How to diagnose a dead car battery

Common symptoms

Before you go off to buy a new car battery you can give it a quick diagnosis to ensure it's completely dead. The last thing you want to do is spend your money on a new battery when all it needed was a charge.

Common symptoms of a dead battery:

• Engine sounds different when switching the car on
• Dashboard lights flashing
• Leaks or build-up around battery terminals
• More than three years old

If you said yes to one of these symptoms then maybe it's time for your battery to be replaced.

What You'll Need

Tools Required To Change Your Battery

Gather your tools in order to successfully change your old car battery, you'll need the following:

• Protective Gloves
• Safety Goggles
• Battery Terminal Cleaner
• Wrench or Socket Wrench

 

A Clear Workspace

Make sure your workspace is clean and tidy, tripping over with a battery in your hand around hazardous materials can cause an explosion that can be fatal - proceed with care.

Organise your tools ahead of time and keep them laid out in a way where you can access them easily, try and keep them within arms reach to save on having to hunt down a 10mm socket hidden under something.

Here's some advice for making your life easier:

• Pop open the bonnet
• Place your new battery somewhere close along with all your other tools
• Make space for where the old battery will go

Step 1. Disconnect the battery terminals

Grab the correct wrench size for your terminals and then proceed to disconnect them, remember always to start with the negative terminal first. This is done because removing the positive terminal first can cause an electrical short.

After removing the negative terminal, proceed to remove the positive terminal.

Step 2. Remove the battery clamp

After disconnecting the battery, proceed to remove all of the screws that are keeping the battery restrained, once this is done remove the battery by lifting the old battery up whilst keeping it upright at all times and place the old battery somewhere safe.

After disconnecting the battery terminals, proceed to remove the battery clamp. The clamp has screws attached to it, remove them and proceed to remove the battery by lifting up the old battery whilst keeping it upright at all times, then find a safe spot to place the battery momentarily.

Make sure to keep all of your screws when removing the clamp and other tray restraints.

Step 3. Inspect the tray & terminals

After removing the dead battery, check the tray for any rust or corrosion. If there is you can clean it with simple ingredients, simply mix baking soda with water to properly clean it out. Once completed, ensure everything is dry before installing the new battery.

Now it's time to check the battery cables, check both the positive and negative cables for any damage or corrosion. Whilst you are doing this, it's wise to use the battery terminal cleaner and give your terminals a good clean to ensure the free flow of electricity.

Step 4. Place the new battery

Gently place the new battery sitting upright back into where the battery tray is and ensure that the battery terminals are facing the correct positions.

Step 5. Reconnect the battery terminals

With the battery now in its correct position, connect and tighten the positive terminal first then proceed to do the same with the negative terminal.

Give them a wiggle to ensure they are on tightly, if they are not you will need to tighten until firm - this is crucial.

Step 6. Put the battery clamp back

Place the clamp you removed earlier back onto the battery and tighten the nuts, by doing so you are ensuring the battery doesn't bounce around when your driving because it will shorten the lifespan of the battery. Doing this ensures your battery doesn't bounce around when driving which if not done can shorten the lifespan of your battery.

 

Useful Battery Information & Aftercare

Maintenance vs Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF)

Car batteries nowadays use a non-maintenance seal which means that they do not require a top-up in order to maintain their electrical charge.

There are two types of conventional lead-acid batteries, ones that are sealed maintenance free (SMF) or maintenance required.

To identify whether your car battery is SMF or required maintenance have a look at the top casing of the battery. If there are screws or caps that can be removed then on your battery, yours requires maintenance - if not then you more than likely have an SMF battery.

With a maintenance battery you can top up your battery using distilled or demineralised water, this is done to prevent water loss due to climate conditions.

If you have an SMF check what colour the indicator is, use the guide below to diagnose what condition it is in. Always refer to the label first if it has its own definitions. Simply recharge if black or replace when white.

• Green = battery is in good condition
• Black = battery needs a recharge
• White = battery completely dead

Battery Testing

Using a battery tester can better help you understand the current state of your car battery. We offer car battery health checks so you can book in and we can have a look at it for you.

Battery testers typically range in price but you'd ideally want one that can test the Voltage and Cold Cranking Amps (CCA), this will help you understand where the battery is in terms of its lifespan.

Simply grab your tester, hook on the cables and conduct your test, it should give you a digital or physical report identifying the current state of the battery.

Battery Aftercare

By taking good care of your car battery you can maximise its lifecycle so that it serves you for many years to come. Maintenance of a battery is quite simple and easy to do, follow these simple steps to ensure that you're maximising your battery lifecycle.

Taking good care of your car battery can maximise its lifespan, it's often quite simpler than people think and can serve you many good years of use. Battery maintenance is a quick and painless process, follow these steps to ensure you're maximising its potential.

Inspecting the battery

It's good to inspect your battery every 3-6 months, have a look at the exterior casing for any cracks or corrosions for any possible signs of overheating or overcharging.

Look at the clamps, screws, and cables for any signs of corrosion, grease and tend to them immediately.

Charge the battery regularly

If your battery is low on charge, make sure you use a smart charger to restore the battery to its maximum potential as undercharging or surface-level charging can destroy the battery quicker.

Clean and protect the terminals

If your battery does show any signs of corrosion clean them with the proper solution and wipe them down ensuring all of the terminals are clean.

The ultimate how to change a car battery guide summary

Battery removal can be a daunting task but with the proper knowledge and tools, you can have it replaced quicker than you think. Ensure everything is done with caution and if you still require assistance with getting your car battery replaced then have a chat with one of our battery experts.