We understand how painful it can be when your car does not start. Whether you just want to inspect the car battery or you want to replace it, in all stances, you have to remove the battery first.
To remove the car battery, start by turning off the ignition key. Next, locate the negative battery terminal and, with the help of a wrench, loosen the nuts. It is advised to remove the negative terminals first for an old battery. It is compulsory to start with the positive terminal for installing a new battery.
If you do not know how to disconnect battery terminals, worry not, as it is a simple process. This post will discuss the steps to safely disconnect a car battery and much more. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the post.
When Do You Need To Disconnect A Car Battery?
On a very rare occasion, you will consider disconnecting your car’s battery. The process of removing a car battery is not complex. But you must ensure you are considering the right battery terminals while removing or installing the battery.
It is mandatory to remove the battery if you want to replace it; that itself is very rare, like once in 3 or 5 years. Another reason you would need to disconnect a car battery is that you are on vacation and want to preserve the battery.
However, remember not to leave the car battery unattended for a longer time. Hydrogen gas released by the battery can mix up dirt and promote corrosion. This can damage the internal components and cause potential damage to the car battery terminal.
How To Safely Disconnect A Car Battery?
Disconnecting the battery of a car is not something that involves complex steps.
To safely disconnect the car battery, you first have to turn off the engine, locate the battery terminals, determine socket wrench size, disconnect the negative cable, disconnect the positive cable, remove the battery strap, and finally pull out the car battery. These steps are explained briefly in the below section.
Turn Off The Engine
First of all, you have to turn off the engine, as you cannot actually remove or replace a car battery if the engine is running.
If the engine is still hot, we would advise you to wait for some time until it cools down. Many cars would have this red casing over the positive terminals, so remove it before performing anything.
Also, please do not close the driver’s door when you are replacing the battery because there are chances that the car will lock itself. If your car has automatic transmission, ensure it is in the park position. But if it’s a manual transmission, the car should be in the first gear.
Before you proceed, gather your safety equipment, including safety gloves, eye protection gear, and a clean cloth. Car batteries hold electric charges and can release flammable and harmful gases, so try to be more careful while handling them.
Locate The Battery
Usually, you will find the car battery just beneath the hood. However, if you are unsure where your car battery is, you can also refer to the owner’s manual. A car owner’s manual will have all the information about the battery and battery terminals.
Once you turn off the ignition, open the hood. You can do so by pulling the hood lever or pressing the button that is usually around the steering wheel. The owner’s manual will help you to find out the hood lever.
If your car’s battery is present beneath the hood, go in front of the car to locate it. However, if it is in the trunk, you can access it from the back or trunk of the car.
For those of you who have the battery under the hood, make sure to secure the hood using a rod. After you find the battery, you will be able to see the battery’s positive and negative terminal on top of it. The negative terminal will have this minus sign, while the positive terminal will have the plus sign.
Determine The Size Of the Wrench
So, you have already located the car battery and battery’s positive and negative terminal; the next step is to disconnect these terminals safely. To do so, you must first determine the bolt size of the car’s positive and negative battery terminals.
This will further help you to decide on the socket wrench size to undo car battery terminals. If you are still not able to find the battery cables, then refer to the car owner’s manual. Make sure to hand-pick the same size socket wrench; otherwise, it would take ages to remove a car battery.
Disconnect The Negative Terminal
A rule of thumb is to start with disconnecting the negative battery terminal. This rule helps to avoid unnecessary sparks that can further damage the car battery. Once you know where the negative terminal is, have the appropriate socket wrench loosen the nut that holds the terminal.
Using the wrench, gently turn the screw in a counterclockwise direction. As soon as the nut is loose, you will be able to remove it using your hands. Make sure to wear safety gloves beforehand and have the nut in a secure place.
Disconnect The Positive Terminal
After you are done disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery next, follow the same procedure to undo the positive terminal of the battery. Hold the positive terminal nut using a wrench and turn counterclockwise direction.
And as the nut is loose, you can undo it using your hand. Also, do not let that positive cable come in contact with other metal parts of the car. There are chances that this cable has charges that, in case of contact, can disturb your car’s electrical circuit, contributing to electrical issues.
Remove Battery Strap And Pull Out Battery
If you closely look at your car battery or any of the car batteries, you will notice that they are held by a battery strap to secure them. This battery strap is made of metal and helps to keep the battery in a firm location to avoid any dame or unnecessary vibrations. You will find this strap at the bottom of the car’s battery, so you actually have to look closely into it.
So when you are done undoing the negative and positive terminals of the car battery, you can detach the battery from its place. For this, you must remove the metal backplate or strap if your car battery has one. To remove the battery, open the nuts on the battery strap and remove the battery carefully.
Check Out How to Install a Battery in Your Vehicle:
How Can You Install A New Car Battery?
Installing a new car battery works the same way as disconnecting the battery, but the difference lies in rotating the nuts in a different direction.
To install a new battery, you first have to start by fastening the positive terminal followed by the negative terminal. Before replacing a new battery, ensure the terminals are rust-free. If not, clean them using baking soda and a wire brush.
How To Clean Car Batteries?
If you have removed your car battery after a very long time, there are chances that the terminals will have corrosion on them.
You do not have to use any expensive cleaner to clean these battery terminals, just use the stuff you have at your home. Making the cleanser is straightforward; simply combine one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water and prepare a mixture. After that, dip your toothbrush into the cleaner and scrub the terminals.
Proceed with spraying cold water and then wiping with a clean cloth. Once the terminals are clean and dry, apply petroleum jelly to lubricate and prevent corrosion to the battery terminals.
FAQs
When Welding On A Car, Do You Need To Disconnect The Battery?
Yes, it is important to disconnect the battery before welding on a car. Ensure all the systems are shut down as the electric current from the welder can short circuit electrical components. You must also remove modules, batteries, or sensors if any.
How Do You Change A Battery Without Getting Shocked?
To change a battery without getting shocked, start removing the old car battery and undo the negative terminals first. While installing a new battery, make sure you start by fastening the positive terminal first.
Also, ensure the positive or negative cable does not come in contact with any of the car’s metal parts to avoid damage to the car’s electrical circuit.
When Jumping A Car Does Red Or Black Go First?
You have to attach the red jumper cable first while jump-starting a car. First of all, attach the red cable to the positive terminal of the battery that will not start.
Next, attach the second red cable to the positive terminal of the battery that is working. Lastly, attach the black cable to the negative side of the working battery.
Do You Turn Off Car Before Disconnecting Jumper Cables?
Do not remove jumper cables while the car engine is in a running state, as it can cause some serious damage to the car’s electrical components. Both of the cars must be turned off first, and the jumper cables must be removed and placed carefully on the ground. Ensure that none of the clamps touch each other.
Why Is My Battery Sparking When I Hook It Up?
Your battery will spark whenever you hook it up because of parasitic load or due to the electricity arcs between the terminal and the cable coming in contact. This can potentially happen when there is a difference between the two contact points. Most importantly, a battery can also spark if it is installed in the wrong order.
Final Considerations
Car batteries can start throwing up regardless of the situation. For this purpose, you must know how to disconnect battery terminals and replace your car battery with a new battery. In the end, follow the steps mentioned here in a proper sequence to avoid getting into trouble. If you ever encounter an unfortunate scenario like your car not starting up, do not panic and ask for some roadside assistance in New Jersey.
Agustin is part of the team at Road Speed Solutions, a reliable and efficient roadside assistance business with over a decade of experience in New Jersey.
What sets Road Speed Solution apart is the team's commitment to giving back to the community, regularly donating to local charities and supporting small businesses. Choose Roadside Speed Solutions for prompt, trustworthy roadside assistance services.
