How to Remove a Car Battery
Need to replace your car battery? Want to do so on your own, but wondering how to remove a car battery in the first place? Abiding by proper protocol when removing a car battery is crucial for your safety. Learn how to remove a car battery safely at your Columbia-area home in this guide from Jim Hudson Ford.
Removing a Car Battery: Preparation
The key to removing a car battery is preparation. Make sure that both you and your vehicle are ready for battery removal by following these steps:
- Park your car in a well-ventilated area.
- Make sure your car is turned off. Attempting to remove the battery while the car is running is highly dangerous.
- Remove all jewelry to prevent shock if they come in contact with the battery.
- Wear insulated gloves and safety goggles for protection from corrosive agents and electrical shock.
- Have zip ties handy to keep battery cables away from each other, and avoid metal-to-metal contact with the cables.
Removing a Car Battery: Removal
When you’re ready to get started, follow these instructions on how to remove a car battery.
- Locate the negative battery terminal, and use a wrench or pliers to hold the bolt head of the terminal still.
- With another wrench or set of pliers, remove the nut, pull off the negative cable, and secure it away from the battery.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the positive cable, being extra careful to ensure the two battery cables do not touch.
- Some batteries are held in place by a securing bracket. If this is the case for your battery, remove the securing bracket’s screws and bolts.
- Lift the battery straight up, and be mindful that a battery can weigh up to 40 pounds.
How Many Volts is a Car Battery?
Drivers like you in the Chapin area typically remove the car battery to test its charge. In this case, it’s important to know about the voltage of a fully charged battery. You should look for a reading of 12.6 volts or higher (13.7 to 14.7 volts when engine is running). If you want to test your battery without removing it from the vehicle, consider the following method:
- Run your car outside of your Irmo home and turn on the headlights.
- Check the brightness of the lights.
- If the lights are dim, they may be running on your battery alone.
- If the lights get brighter when you rev the engine, the alternator is likely not producing enough current when idle to keep the battery charged.
- If there is no change in brightness when you rev the engine, your battery is functioning normally.
Have any questions? The Jim Hudson Ford Service Department can help! Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Schedule Service with Jim Hudson Ford
Knowing how to remove a car battery is just one of many service-related tasks you should master. Jim Hudson Ford also provides information on how to fix a car dent and how often to change synthetic oil, among other services. Make sure to schedule auto service with us if you need help from professionals!