How to Replace a Car Battery

Car Battery Replacement! Few of us, on the other hand, pay much attention to our car’s battery or indeed a battery warranty. As one of the most important parts of any modern vehicle, your car’s battery manages a massive range of tasks and devices, from starting the engine to powering in-car computers.

In addition to changing your oil, replacing air filters and other general service tasks, taking care of your car’s battery is one of the most effective ways to ensure your car runs smoothly and without any problems. While the heart of most cars is an internal combustion engine, a lot of features still run off of a battery. Even the task of starting the car is on the shoulders of the battery.

When should I change a Car Battery?

Modern cars are equipped with even more electronics and features than ever before. Things like the headlamps, EPAS, auto-dimming IRVM, wiper controls, airbags and more can operate thanks to the battery.

How can you tell the battery is not able to hold the charge?

If you hear a chugging sound when you twist the key, then it is probably a case of a bad battery. While it is possible to bring a dead battery back to life by jumpstarting it, sometimes you just have to get a new unit.

Yes, there are several ways to find out whether the battery is getting loose or not. As the battery gets weak and can’t hold the charge any longer, you may notice these:

• Either the engine takes time to start or doesn’t even start. The battery is not able to produce ample power to start the engine.
• While turning the ignition the dash light either flicker or are dim than usual.
• The engine suddenly turns off while operating the power windows or the windows operate at a much slower pace than normal.
• Another sign you may notice is dim dash lights when the engine is idle and as you rev the engine, they get brighter.
• A lot of corrosion or oxidation on the battery terminals is also a major sign to make out that the car battery is getting low.
• Modern cars come equip with a battery warning light which lights up when the battery is low.

If you can observe any of the problems listed it’s time to get the battery replaced before the old battery gets you stranded.

Fortunately, changing your car battery is a fairly easy task to do and does not take more than 5 minutes!

The battery of a car sits in the engine bay and you will have to open the hood of your car to access it. Before you buy a new battery, make sure to check the specifications of the battery that is already installed in your car. Batteries come in a lot of different capacities and sizes so, you need to get the correct one for your vehicle.

Where you can find the battery?

To remove the old battery, unplug the negative cable from the negative terminal and the positive cable from the positive end. An easy way to recognise each terminal is to look for the ‘minus’ and ‘plus’ sign. The minus sign corresponds to the negative terminal and the plus sign corresponds to the positive terminal.

Another way of identifying the terminals is by seeing the colour on the terminal – red means positive and black means negative terminal.

“It is advisable to remove the negative terminal first and then the positive terminal.”

Be very careful not to touch the terminal cables with each other or any other metallic surface. While not mandatory, wearing a pair of rubber gloves can give you an additional layer of safety during this process. Next, you will need a wrench to loosen the cables from the terminals.

If you see powder-like green or blue coloured substance on the battery terminals then it is corrosion. Clean the terminals using sandpaper. If you do not have sandpaper, use any other tool like a screwdriver to scrape off some of the corrosion.

How to remove old and replace new one?

Your car’s battery is most likely held in place with the help of a clamp that is bolted with some nuts. Remove the nuts so that you can pull the old battery out and put the new one in its place.

Batteries are densely packed and can weigh a lot. They also have acid in them which can spoil your clothes and harm your skin. So, be careful when moving them around. Now drop in the new battery and put the clamp back in place and secure the battery properly.

When plugging the terminals back in, plug them in reverse order. Plug the positive terminal first and then the negative one. Tug at the terminals lightly to check if they have been connected properly. Once the new battery has been connected, you can drop the hood and start your car.

How much does a battery replacement cost?

Well, the cost of the battery varies. It depends on the model and the year of the vehicle you own. But on an average here in India the battery cost may range from about ₹3,000 to ₹10,000 or maybe more if your car has a special battery or is a mild hybrid.

Is it time to replace your car’s battery?

When was the last time you replaced your car’s battery? Whether your car works as new or its lights and other electronic devices are starting to show signs of age, there is no bad time to check your battery’s condition.

Changing your car’s battery every 2-3 years will keep it running at its best and help you avoid embarrassing roadside or car park breakdowns. Is it time to replace your car’s battery?

Conclusion

A car battery is one of the most ignored car essentials. Very few of us pay attention to it and follow a good maintenance schedule. Well, it is the battery which gets the engine going, it is the battery through which we’re able to enjoy the music on the go. Like changing the engine oil, all the filters and other general service work, pampering the car battery will ensure your car runs smoothly and without any problems.