How to Remove and Install a Car Battery

How to Replace Battery

Here are some easy instructions on how to replace and install your car battery.  What you will need — an adjustable wrench, a couple of clean lint-free rags, a pair of disposable latex gloves, some water and baking soda, a battery brush, auto grease, and an inexpensive pair of safety goggles — and then follow these steps:

  1. Turn off your engine.  Make sure that your vehicle is in Park, with the engine shut off and the parking brake on.  Good idea to remove the keys from the ignition too.
  2. Open the hood and place a blanket or pad over the fender.This protects your car from corrosive battery acid.
  3. Remove the cables from the battery terminals. Look in your owner’s manual to see whether your vehicle has negative ground (most do). If it does, use an adjustable wrench to first loosen the nut and bolt on the clamp that holds the battery cable on the negative terminal. (That’s the post with the little “–” or “NEG” on it.) If your vehicle has positive ground, loosen the cable with “+” or “POS” on it first. Remove the cable from the post and lay it out of your way. Then remove the other cable from its post and lay that aside.If you have trouble loosening the bolt, grab it with one wrench and the nut with another, and move the wrenches in opposite directions. In this case, you don’t want to remove the bolts; just loosen them enough to release the cable clamps.
  4. Remove whatever devices are holding the battery in place.  When you’re removing a bolt or screw, after you’ve loosened it with a tool, turn it the last few turns by hand so that you have a firm grip on it when it comes loose and it doesn’t drop and roll into obscurity.
  5. Remove the battery.  When the battery is free, lift it out of its seat and place it out of your way.
  6. If the tray on which the battery was standing is rusty or has deposits on it, clean it with a little baking soda dissolved in water.  Wear your gloves because the battery stuff is corrosive, and be sure the battery tray is completely dry before taking the next step!
  7. Where do you buy a new car battery?  Costco is a great place to find a decent quality car battery.  Place the new battery on the tray.  Make sure it is facing in the same direction as the old one was.
  8. Replace the devices that held the old battery in place. Try to wiggle the battery to make sure it’s completely secure.
  9. Replace the battery cables on the terminals in reverse order from which you removed them.  Apply some grease to the connectors because it will help prevent future corrosion by displacing the air in the surrounding space. If your vehicle has negative ground, the positive cable goes back first. Make certain that the clamps holding the cables on the battery terminals are gripping the posts tightly.
  10. Take the old battery to a recycling center that accepts batteries. Batteries are filled with a toxic, corrosive liquid and must be disposed of properly. What’s more, old batteries are usually rebuilt into new ones, so just throwing one in the trash is doubly bad for the environment.

If your battery dies and can’t be recharged or boosted and you’re stranded in a vehicle that you can’t drive in for service, please feel to call our Mobile Battery Replacement Service.  Give us a call at 954-527-0942.    

Our service offers you only premium batteries delivered directly to you anywhere in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Whether at work or home we will bring to you a battery specifically for your year and make of vehicle.  All repairs are guaranteed.

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Mobile Battery Services and Replacement in Fort Lauderdale

car-batteryWhen your car doesn’t start up, a boost will often help you get to your next destination; but it does not fix the real problem. When this happens to you, Southport Auto Mobile Battery Service will deliver and install a heavy-duty or premium battery that is right for your vehicle. If the battery does not need to be replaced we will not replace it.

Our Mobile Service includes battery service, test and cleaning, charging system test and block heater check.

Our service offers you only premium batteries delivered directly to you anywhere in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Whether at work or home we will bring to you a battery specifically for your year and make of vehicle.  All repairs are guaranteed.

Call: 954-527-0942 for a service call.

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Southport Auto Repair is ready to service your car…

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Southport Auto Repair is dedicated to providing honest and reliable auto service in the Fort Lauderdale area.  With over 25 years of experience in auto mechanics, we can offer great service at an affordable price.  We work on both foreign and domestic vehicles.  We are confident that you will be satisfied with the work done to your car, truck, SUV or van.

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Southport Auto Repair
101 SW 17th street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Tel: 954-527-0942

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