Steps for Changing Your Car's Battery

One of the most important aspects of owning a car is keeping up with it's maintenance. Most of us don't have ten grand sitting in the bank to buy a new car whenever we want so it's imperative that we take care of the car we have. People who don't take care of their car usually find out that it doesn't last as long as they thought it would.

Part of your car's maintenance plan is addressing certain needs your car will have every few years. A car battery is one of those needs.

Changing a car batter is something that anyone can do and shouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg to get done. If you see that your car has been having issues when starting then it may be possible it's time to put in a new battery.

But what if you've never changed a car battery and have no idea where to start? No problem. Listed below are simple steps you can take to change your car battery and get it back up and running as smooth as possible.

1 - Go to your local auto shop store and verify if they will give you a discount for turning in your old battery. Most auto places will charge you a specific price for your new battery but will give you a refund once you turn your old battery in.

If you're not sure, have one of the attendants help you pick the correct battery out for your car. Most auto stores have a book with your car's make and model and the battery that is needed.

2 - Make sure you car is turned off and in park. Remove the keys completely from the ignition.

3 - Pop the hood mechanism (usually located on the left bottom side of the dashboard, but will vary on cars) and lift the hood and locate the battery.

4 - Disconnect the cable terminals that are attached to the battery's post.

5 - If you're not aware of what the cable terminals are, they're the red and black cables that can be lifted from the top of the battery.

6 - Next, most batteries are held in place with some sort of bracket. Again, this differs on each automobile. But you want to dismantle the brackets that are holding the battery in place.

7 - After the brackets have been dismantled, you should be able to remove your battery. Check to see if your battery has a handle that you can use to lift it with. If not, it would be wise to grab a pair of gloves you have laying around to lift the battery.

8 - Once removed, you'll want to clean the ends of your red and black cables. Sometimes acid that has leaked from the battery can build up and affect the connection from the battery to the cables. Try using a wire brush and warm water to give a light scrub to the metal ends of the cable. Dry with a dry cloth.

9 - Insert your new batter and connect your cables. There should not be any wiggle room. Your cables should be attached tight and secure. Reattach your brackets and verify our battery is securely in place.

10 - Test your new battery by turning on your car.