How easy is it to replace car battery?

smree

Hi

Just wondering if any of ye have replaced a car battery and how complicated it is? Would it be something that someone with no car mechanics experience could do?

Thanks

bucks

Couldnt be easier.
Disconnect the plus, minus and the battery tiedown.
Lift out and replace with another battery.

2 minute job.

Interceptor

It depends on the car - most are easy but some can be tricky. You need either a 10mm or 13mm spanner to undo the clamps (or they might undo by hand if there are plastic knobs). Take utmost care not to cross the connections of either battery with anything metal or the short circuit could cause injury.

Make sure to tighten the connections very well. If you are in any doubt or are very ham-fisted, leave the job to whoever sells you the battery or bring it to a Kwik-fit and pay a fiver to get someone to do it.

'cptr

'cptr

BrianD3

Some cars require a bit of trim dismantling to get at the battery - but even still its usually easy and something that anyone can do.

Also, smear a bit of vaseline on the terminals of the new battery before connecting it up.

smree

thanks

css

Just make sure your radio doesn't need a code, and you might have to reset the automatic electric windows afterwards.

maidhc

bucks wrote:

Disconnect the plus, minus and the battery tiedown.

I'd disconnect the negative first and connect it last. I once shorted a battery by touching a bit the body to the positive terminal with a spanner when I had the negative connected and was connecting the positive. Didnt do any harm, just sent a few sparks flying.

Most motor factors wont charge for fitting a new bat.

Litcagral

If the car has a theft alarm it will probably activate when you disconnect the old battery-it's very loud :eek: when you're under the bonnet. If possible disable alarm first.

Rovi

css wrote:

Just make sure your radio doesn't need a code, and you might have to reset the automatic electric windows afterwards.

You can used this sort of thing- http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=4612407378 to preserve stuff like radio pre-sets, digital clocks, 'learning' engine ECUs, anti-theft systems, automatic windows, etc.

Undo the negative (earth, '-', blue) pole first and tuck the cable safely out of the way. You can then safely fiddle with the battery clamps and the positive (live, '+', red) pole without creating a short circuit anywhere.
If you're using a 'memory saver' gadget, don't forget that the positive cable will still be 'live' all the time! Don't let it touch the bodywork and isolate it once it's off.

As someone has already mentioned, most motor factors will fit a battery, and they should have a 'memory saver' too. That's if you buy the new battery from them, of course! :rolleyes:

If you're uncomfortable of the basic safety procedures for handling car batteries (they contain BIG fire and toxic fumes/substances if abused, and they're heavy), or you have a modern car with loads of electronic trickery, it might be best to hand the job over to someone else.


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Marathon_Man

Any idea how much a new battery is? for a 1600 petrol.