How to Change a Car Battery

 
Your vehicle cannot run without its battery, making it very inconvenient if it dies on you all of a sudden. Fortunately, changing your car battery is actually one of the simpler automotive repairs and can be done by the average person. If you feel that it may be time to replace your battery, you can follow these steps so you won’t have to worry about it dying in the middle of a trip.
 
To replace a battery you’ll need goggles, gloves, a 10mm wrench, a pair of adjustable pliers, a baking soda and water solution and of course, a new battery.
 
The first thing you’ll need to do is to clean the terminals with your solution so you can get rid of the sulfate deposits that may be preventing your battery from recharging. After the sulfate has been removed you should wipe everything down.
 
Now that the battery is clean and you’ve inspected it for cracks, it’s time to replace the old one. First, remove the nuts from the bolts that hold the terminal cable to the negative and positive posts on the battery. After that, you should unfasten any plate that holds the battery and its seat. Once that’s done, you can safely remove the battery by lifting it straight up and onto the ground.
 
To install the new battery, you’ll have to attach the new terminals, starting with the positive end. With both terminals attached, you can refasten the plates and try your car’s ignition. If it starts up your battery was the main reason your car was having troubles.
 
Although changing a car battery is relatively simple, it is a dangerous process because of the acid that might leak from the battery. If you’re uncomfortable changing it you should get a professional to do it for you.
 
Patrick Britton – Guest Blogger