Disconnect battery which terminal

Just be aware that a very old battery could be unrecoverable. If your car battery fails, the battery warning light or check engine light will probably illuminate the dashboard. RepairSmith can help you sort out your battery issues and fit in a new battery if required.

RepairSmith is a convenient mobile vehicle maintenance and repair solution. Here are some excellent reasons to keep them in mind:. Battery replacement cost will vary based on car make and model, and location.

For an accurate estimate of the cost, fill this online form. The most important thing to remember is that the negative terminal comes off first.

However, if you have other battery issues and want to be extra safe, just contact RepairSmith and let their ASE-certified technicians do the job, right in your driveway! You may also want to have some anti-corrosion grease or rust spray on hand. Work in an open environment to minimize the possibility of gas buildup and exposure. Dry workspace: Never work in wet areas. Remove metal jewelry: Metal is conductive, so remove any jewelry to minimize the risk of an electric shock from accidental contact with a battery terminal.

Wear safety equipment: Use gloves and safety goggles if available. Driver door open: Leave the driver door open as some cars can lock themselves when the battery is disconnected. Step 2. How do you disconnect it? Step 3. Disconnect The Positive Terminal Second After the negative terminal has been disconnected, do the same thing for the positive terminal.

Step 4. Detach Holding Mechanism And Remove Battery Most batteries are secured to the battery tray with some type of holding mechanism. Batteries can be surprisingly heavy, often weighing between lbs. Keep this in mind when you lift the battery off the battery tray. Then, place the old battery on a level surface. Step 5. Always make sure each battery cable is secured out of the way. There are many reasons for disconnecting the car battery from the engine bay.

You should also make sure that you do not connect the battery cables backwards. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Remove all jewelry, particularly rings and necklaces. Helpful 8 Not Helpful 4. Helpful 6 Not Helpful 6. Batteries in hybrid vehicles produce more than volts, which is a potentially lethal level. If you need to work on any electrical component in a hybrid vehicle, disable the high-voltage battery in the back of the car first.

The wiring is usually color-coded in orange. Use insulated tools and gloves when performing the task to reduce the risk of shock. Be sure to follow the exact procedure from the manufacturer on disconnecting a hybrid battery as there may be additional steps involved.

Helpful 2 Not Helpful 4. Standard car batteries can generate several hundred amps of current, which is roughly the amount of current used by a welding arc. Do not try to test your battery's charge by touching the positive and negative terminals with a metal tool. The current is so high it could damage the tool and potentially harm you, as well. Zip tie the cables away from the battery to prevent cables from returning to the battery terminal and causing sparks or electrocution.

Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 4. Related wikiHows How to. How to. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: May 6, Categories: Car Batteries and Ignitions.

Article Summary X To disconnect a car battery, start by turning off the engine and opening the hood so you can access the battery. In other languages Italiano: Smontare la Batteria dell'Auto. Bahasa Indonesia: Memutuskan Baterai Mobil. Nederlands: Een auto accu loskoppelen.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,, times. Reader Success Stories J. Jul 31, Knew nothing about cars, so went on a blog which suggested cleaning the air filter, MAS, and disconnecting the battery so as to reboot the electrics. After messing about with a few wrenches and spanners, I disconnected the battery, waited 2 mins then reconnected. So now will wait and see if it is a genuine engine fault or just an electrical one. Thank you. More reader stories Hide reader stories.

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Peter Seddeg Jul 12, This is one of the most important steps. You will need at most only a couple of wrenches to get the job done, depending on how much space there is to maneuver the wrench and whether the battery cable uses a single bolt on the clamp or one that also uses a nut on the other end. You'll have to borrow the wrenches from a friend or relative or buy a set. Most but not all battery-cable clamps have millimeter bolts, so you'll likely need a millimeter open-end wrench to disconnect the cables.

A socket-wrench set that includes that same-size socket will be helpful as well. In some cases, you can get by with just an adjustable open-end wrench. Here's where you need to be careful. Make sure the car's ignition is off. It's a good idea to wear eye protection when working around batteries.

First, unbolt the negative battery cable and disconnect it by lifting it free. It might take some wiggling and twisting to pull it off. Be sure never to let the wrench touch both the negative and positive terminals at the same time. Even though the battery is technically dead, there might be enough residual electricity in it to short it out and create a spark, and you don't want any sparks around the battery or the engine compartment.

There's also a remote possibility that shorting out the battery this way will damage your vehicle's electrical system or engine-control computer.

After you've removed the negative cable, push it far out of the way. Now remove the positive cable. Many batteries are secured by a clamp that locks the battery to the tray that it sits on. Before you can lift it out of the vehicle, you'll have to remove this clamp.