Changing Battery DIY?

davej

I'm a complete car novice but I'm pretty sure the battery of my 01 Civic is dead (i'm sure the recent sub-zero temps didn't help)

Symptoms:
The car won't start, it just clicks once or twice.
If I turn the heating on, the radio cuts out
The central locking isn't working consistently.

How easy is it to change the battery myself or should i just get a charger ? As I said I know very little about cars (no experience) but I do have an amount of cop on.

Is there anything I should look out for when doing this? I guess I need a ratchet..anything else?

davej

Nonoperational

How old is the battery? You could try charging it once and see how it goes but if its a few years old you might need a new one anyway. As far as I remember its simple to change it on a civic. Take off the negative (black) first then the red. Reconnect in the opposite order. Easy out.

dolanator

changing a batt is very straight forward,even for someone with minimal skills,simply a case of going to your local motor factors get your batt,undo the two terminals on the current batt you might need a socket with an extension bar to undo the holding plate once thats undone its just a case of swaping them around and reconecting your terminals and jobs a good'n

woody33

Easy-peasy, but if you really don't want to do it yourself halfords will fit a battery you buy from them for just a few bucks extra. Maybe first try undoing the terminals on your own battery, cleaning them up with sand paper and refitting.

davej

Thanks lads, will give it a go..

iamskippy

why not try jump starting the car and driving to see if it recharges

bazz26

Just remember that the stereo will need a code entered when you change the battery. It might be handy to get this before you change the battery.

frank gooding

Just make sure you get the same size with the poles in the same position and same type.

Size if its too big it may not fit. If its too tall may short on the body or bonnet.

If the + and - poles are on different corners the wires may not stretch.

Some have round poles and some have flat ones with bolt holes. Just get the same as current battery.

So a snap with you phone should do it.

Otherwise easy peasy as mentioned.

iamskippy

iamskippy wrote: »

why not try jump starting the car and driving to see if it recharges

gpf101 wrote: »

How old is the battery? You could try charging it once and see how it goes but if its a few years old you might need a new one anyway. .

If the car was used regularly and not standing for months and the battery goes, it needs replacing, not recharging

BostonB

Even if it does start it won't hold enough charge to be useful. If you leave for a day it will most likely be dead again. Batteries are cheap enough, well worth getting a new one.

EKRIUQ

Halfords will change the battery for €6.99, not too sure if you have to buy the battery there.

Green Hornet

BostonB wrote: »

Even if it does start it won't hold enough charge to be useful. If you leave for a day it will most likely be dead again. Batteries are cheap enough, well worth getting a new one.

Not so sure about that actually. My wifes 02 Civic ran down over Xmas in the cold temperatures and needed jump leads to start it. Brought it for a little run and it's fine since. Starts first time every time.

Might be worth trying a jump start first and giving it a little spin to charge it. Even if it doesn't work it wont cost you anything to try.