- STEP 1
- STEP 2
- STEP 3
- STEP 4
- STEP 5
- Read and follow the Safety and Handling Information on this website.
- Clean the tray where the battery rests. Use steel wool or a wire brush to rub the metal clamps and remove any corrosion.
- Place your new battery in the battery tray (make sure your battery is fully charged). Make sure it faces the proper direction so that the positive and negative terminals line up with their corresponding cables. Secure the hold-down strap in its original position over the new battery, ensuring it is properly secure to prevent movement or vibration wear. Do not tighten the hold-down bracket too hard, since this can damage the plastic case and cover.
- Attach both cables. Attach the positive (red) cable first, following with the negative (black) cable.
- Hand-tighten the nuts. Do not over tighten the terminal bolts; the following values are recommended:
- SAE (tapered) automotive terminal: 50 to 70 inch-lb.
- Side terminal (3/89 nut): 70 to 90 inch-lb.
- Threaded stud terminal: 120 to 180 inch-lb.
How to Install a Battery in Your Car
Learn how to install a new battery in your car.
Car and Truck Battery Installation Tips
- Check mounting surface for objects or protrusions that could cause damage or wear to the case or cover. The battery must be level in the tray. Make sure there are no foreign objects in the tray that could damage the battery.
- Replace cables and connectors that show signs of corrosion, rust or other damage.
- Do not lift or handle the battery by its terminals.
- If using a dual-terminal battery (it has both top and side terminals), use top terminals for accessory hookups and vehicle starting. Only use battery side terminals for vehicle starting.
- Check for proper battery polarity with respect to vehicle specifications. “Ground” polarity is typically indicated. “Reversed” polarity can cause serious damage to your vehicle’s electrical system.
- The hold-down should be tightened so that it is snug.
- Top bar or top frame hold-down: 30 to 50 inch-lb.
- Bottom recess hold-down: 60 to 80 inch-lb.
- Bottom ledge-type hold-down: 70 to 90 inch-lb.
Caution: Some vehicles equipped with advanced electrical systems may require special handling procedures. Please refer to your owner’s manual for details.
Car batteries are an essential part of vehicle operation, and like everything, they stop working after a while. When this happens, knowing how to properly disconnect your car battery is vital. Mistakes could ruin your battery permanently
or cause you serious harm. Learn to do things the right way and in the right order, so you can be safe and confident next time you need to disconnect a car battery.If a car battery is working well, we tend to forget it exists. But if it stops working, do you know how to disconnected it and replace it safely? Learn how here.
Introduction
Tools Required
Materials Required
Project step-by-step (5)
Step 1
Shut Everything Off and Find the Battery
- Make sure your vehicle is not running and all electrical components are off before starting the battery disconnection process.
- Open your vehicle's hood if that's where the battery is housed, as it is in most vehicles. If your battery is somewhere else, do whatever you need to do to gain access.
- Remove the red plastic cover from the battery's positive terminal.
Step 2
Disconnect the Battery Cables
- Use your socket wrench or adjustable wrench to loosen the nut holding the cable onto the negative battery terminal. The terminals will be marked positive and negative. Make sure you disconnect the negative terminal first.
- Lay the disconnected negative cable carefully to one side, making sure it's well away from the battery terminal.
- Disconnect the cable from the positive battery terminal in the same way, then lay it to one side.
- While loosening the cables, be sure not to touch your wrench to both terminals at the same time, because this will allow electricity from the battery to flow through your wrench.
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Do It Right, Do It Yourself!
Step 3
Loosen the Battery Holding Mechanism and Remove Battery
- Find the strap or other mechanism holding your battery in place. On my vehicle it is a steel strut that caps the top of the battery. Use the appropriate wrench to loosen and remove this.
- Carefully lift the battery out of the vehicle, making sure to keep it level the whole time to avoid sloshing the acid inside.
- Lay the battery on a flat surface away from the vehicle.
Step 4
Clean the Battery Terminals and Cable Contacts
- Use your pipe cleaning-style wire brush to carefully clean the inner surface of the battery cable connectors where they contact the terminals. This surface should be smooth and free of corrosion before installing your new battery.
- Clean the battery terminals with the cup-style wire brush, making sure the terminals are free of corrosion and debris.
- To help prevent new rust from forming, apply a little anti-corrosion grease to the battery terminals with your fingers. Wipe off the excess from your fingers with a heavy-duty shop towel.
Step 5
Reinstall the Battery or Install a Fresh One
- If you are concerned about rust, spray some anti-rust compound onto the metal platform where the battery sits. This isn't necessary, but if the platform is exposed steel, it may rust in time if it hasn't already.
- Lift your new battery (or the old one, if it's still good) back into position on its platform.
- Replace the containment strap or strut over the battery, and tighten the nuts holding it down as required.
- Reconnect the positive cable to the positive terminal, making sure it's tight.
- Reconnect the negative cable to the negative battery terminal in the same way, and you're done.
- Reset the digital clock in your vehicle, because it will no longer be showing the correct time.
Originally Published: July 02, 2020
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Do you hook up red or black first?
Attach the red jumper cables first. Start by clamping one red cable to the positive side of the battery that won't start. Then attach the other red clamp to the positive side of the working battery. Next, clamp one black cable to the negative side of the working battery.
What order do you attach car battery terminals?
Attach both cables. Attach the positive (red) cable first, following with the negative (black) cable.
Why do you connect positive first?
Connect positive first, negative having less potential won't arc. The higher the voltage, the greater the chance of arcing and fusion. On a car if negative first and you are touching any metal part of car, when attaching positive there is possibility of arcing through you. Your body becomes part of the circuit.