How to Install a Car Battery

Installing a car battery at home is a rather straightforward process, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to ensure you do it safely. To start, you will need to make sure you have all the proper tools and parts: a wrench, possibly two, a wire brush, and a screwdriver are all the tools you’ll need. You will also want to protect your hands with some thick rubber gloves as well. Lastly, take care when moving the battery to avoid spilling battery acid. If you begin to have trouble or have questions, reach out to the service department at Tacoma Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram.

Car Battery Installation Steps

1. Make sure the car is turned off, in park and the parking brake is activated. 
2. Open the hood and locate the battery, usually located near the front of the engine compartment. 
3. Next loosen the nut connected to the negative or black cable using a wrench.
4. Once the nut is loosened, remove the cable from the battery, If you find the cable is stuck, use a screwdriver to pry the cable off. 
5. Follow the same steps to remove the red battery cable from the positive terminal. 
6. You will want to look for a bracket that holds the battery in place, loosen the bracket and then remove it. (Not all cars have this bracket)
7. At this point, the battery can be removed. Be careful to use both hands when removing the battery, they are heavy and dropping them can cause an unsafe leak. 
8. Now you will want to look for any corrosion in the battery tray or on the bracket that held the battery in place. Using a battery cleaning product or a mixture of baking soda and water remove any corrosion.
9. Use the wire brush and the same cleaning product to also clean off the battery cable connectors
10. You are now ready to install your new battery. First place it in the battery tray and then tighten the hold-down bracket. 
11. At this point you can spray anti-corrosion spray on the positive and negative terminals of the new battery if you have it.
12. Now attach the battery cables to the battery terminals, connecting first the red cable and then the black cable. 
13. Take a moment to check the connections making sure they are secure, then move the battery to ensure it is securely in place. 
14. Lastly, close the hood and start your car.

Visit Tacoma Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram for Battery Replacement

Whether you have questions about car batteries or would like to schedule an appointment to have your battery changed by one of our technicians, Tacoma Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram is here to help! Our service center is conveniently located near Gig Harbor and Lakewood.