Car Battery Replacement: How to Change a Car Battery

Are you searching for "how to change the car battery" and how much it costs? If so, you are at the right place.

Like every other electrical equipment, a car battery comes with a specific lifespan. No matter how sincerely you take care of it, it will expire one day. If your car battery is dead and it often needs a jump start, it is time for the car battery replacement. Similarly, if your car's headlights are dimming or you have been using a battery for a couple of years, replace it on priority.

This read explains when to replace a car battery, how much you need for it, how you can change it, valuable tips, and more. Let's get into further specifics.

When should you replace your car battery?

Several ways to understand the need for car battery replacement are listed and explained below.

1. Old Batteries: A car battery can last between 3 and 5 years. If you have been using the same battery for more than the mentioned duration, you need to replace it. A healthy car battery produces 12.6V or higher. If there is a significant voltage drop, it indicates that your battery is old.
2. Need Frequent Jump Start: If you often have to jump-start your vehicle, it shows the degraded performance of your battery, as a healthy battery does not need a jump to start your car. In case of frequent jump starts required, replace the battery.
3. Smells Bad: If you notice an unpleasant smell coming out of your car's battery, it is time to change it. When a battery dies, sulfuric acid emits such a smell.
4. Bulging Battery Case: When the battery cells are swollen, they make the case bulge. It can also cause a fire hazard. Don't be late to replace the battery whenever you notice this situation.
5. Slow Engine Turnover: When your battery fails to provide enough power to the engine, it takes more time to start than usual.

How much is a replacement car battery?

The car battery replacement cost may vary from one vehicle to another. If you have a standard flooded car, the replacement will cost you between $185 and $300. If you need an AGM battery for your vehicle, you will have to pay anywhere between $250 and $400. However, the cost of replacing a car battery depends on various factors. A few of them are as follows.

• Battery Size: You can start a smaller engine with a standard car battery, but a bigger battery is needed to power up a large engine. The reserve capacity of large batteries is greater than that of small batteries. Therefore, the cost of a standard battery is lower than a larger battery.
• Brand: The cost of the battery varies from one brand to another. The manufacturers who use premium-quality material to make long-lasting batteries charge more for their products compared to traditional alternatives.
• Installation Cost: Some locations offer car battery replacement services for free. However, it usually costs you between $20 and $75. The installation charges add up to the overall battery replacement cost. If you know how to install a battery perfectly, you can save the installation cost by installing it on your own.

Note: If you are looking for a trusted car battery supplier, explore the range of batteries at Renogy.

How can you change the car battery?

Before we move toward replacing the battery, let's first look at the tools required to do this job.

• New battery
• Battery terminal puller
• Goggles
• Safety gloves
• Cleaning brush
• Wrench

It is time to go through the steps required to replace a car battery.

Step 1: Switch Your Car Off

Before you start replacing a battery, don't forget to switch off your car. It will help you proceed safely. Once you turn the car off, wait for a few minutes until the engine cools down.

Step 2: Identify the Terminals

It is time to identify the positive and negative terminals of the battery. Usually, the positive terminal is denoted with a "+" sign and comes with a red cover. On the other hand, the "-" sign is used to indicate the negative terminal of the battery. If you are still struggling to identify the right terminals, reading through the manual guide will assist you in this regard.

Step 3: Disconnect the Battery Terminals

Now that you have switched off your car and identified both terminals. It is time to disconnect before you go ahead. While disconnecting, remove the negative terminal first. Use a wrench to loosen the terminal's nut. As soon as the nut is loosened, you can gently remove the terminal. Do the same for the positive terminal.

Note: If you want to know more about the specific details of it to ensure safety, read How to Disconnect A Car Battery.

Step 4: Remove the Old Battery

Before you try to pick the battery up and remove it from your car, don't forget to ensure that no clamp is holding it. Wear gloves and lift up the battery to gently remove it from the vehicle. Make sure you use safety goggles when doing this. If you are unable to remove the battery by hand, use a battery terminal puller.

Step 5: Clean the Terminals & Connect the New Battery

You may see some greenish junk on your battery's terminals. If so, clean the terminals gently with a wire brush and a mixture of water and baking soda. Before you move on, never forget to ensure that everything is bone-dry.

Let's now learn to install a new battery. First of all, remove the plastic covers (black and red) from the battery terminals. Now, place the new battery into the tray. Connect the positive and negative terminals correctly with the help of a wrench. Make sure the nuts are fully tightened to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Tips for a car battery replacement

Replacing your car's battery requires a couple of safety precautions, as given below.

• The first one is to wear appropriate clothing to ensure your personal safety.
• Make sure your vehicle is not parked close to explosive objects.
• Always remove the negative terminal first and then detach the positive terminal.
• Remove the dust or rust from the battery case and the battery tray.
• While connecting the new battery, attach the positive terminal first and then connect the negative terminal.
• If your car is not starting after replacing the new battery, don't be concerned, but check the terminals to see if they are appropriately connected.

How can you lengthen your car battery life?

As stated earlier, the average lifespan of a car battery is somewhere between 3 and 5 years. After this duration, the battery fails to perform its functions correctly. Though we can do nothing with the lifespan, we can take extra care of our car batteries to increase the time (to some extent) they last for. Below are a few points you can follow to increase the battery's lifespan.

• Limit short trips, as they don't allow your battery to be charged fully.
• Never leave your car unused for a long time because the battery gets discharged when you don't use it.
• Always make sure your car battery is not exposed to extreme temperatures.
• Monitor the battery's health and check the water level on a regular basis. Checking the water level at least once every 3 months is a good practice. If you have been using a car battery for over 1.5 years, try checking it once every 7 days.
• Ensure your battery is fastened firmly and you do routine checkups.

Conclusion

Dim headlights, frequent jump-starts, a bulged case, and an unpleasant smell from the battery are all potential signs that you need the car battery replacement. Similarly, if your battery is older than 3 to 5 years, it indicates that it has completed its lifespan, so you need to change it on priority.

Changing a car battery requires some factors to consider, such as wearing safety goggles, using safety clothes, removing the negative terminal first, and lifting the battery up carefully.

If you want to know how you can replace a car battery and how much you need for it, read the discussion above, as it has covered everything you need. If you want to buy a car battery at a fair price, get in touch with Renogy.

FAQs about car battery replacement

Q: Can I replace the car battery myself?

A: This is something most car owners do on their own. The hardest part of replacing a car's battery is to pick it up and remove it from the vehicle. If you are okay with this, you can easily disconnect the old battery and attach the new one by connecting their positive and negative terminals correctly.

Q: Are all car batteries the same?

A: No, car batteries can be different depending on various factors, such as models, year, and make. One thing that is common in batteries is their working principle. Most of the time, SLI batteries are used to power up the car's engine. On the other hand, a lithium-ion battery is used in electric vehicles. A lithium-ion car battery is lighter and comes with much more power than an SLI battery.

Q: How to test a car battery?

A: You can easily test a car's battery using a multimeter by setting it to the DC side. All you need to do is connect the red probe to the positive terminal and the black probe to the metallic surface of your car. While doing this, make sure the headlights are turned on. Now, take the reading, and it should be near 13.5V (greater than your standard 12V battery's voltage).