How to Install a Car Battery

If you find yourself having to jump-start your vehicle often or maybe you’ve been stuck on the side of the Watsonville road due to a faulty battery, then it’s probably time to get your battery changed. If you’re unsure how to install a car battery yourself, then you’re in luck. The service center at Santa Cruz Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has put together an easy how-to guide to show you how you can perform your very own battery installation right from home.

Removing the Battery

Before you install a new battery, you’ll need to take the old battery out. Removing the battery isn’t difficult and doesn’t require many tools. To remove the battery, follow these simple steps:

1. Turn off the engine and put your vehicle in park.
2. Pop open the hood and locate the battery.
3. Once you’ve located the battery, loosen the nut connecting the negative (black) cable from the battery with a wrench.
4. Once the nut is loose, twist the cable and pull it off. Don’t pry this off with a screwdriver or other tool as it can cause damage to the battery.
5. Repeat these steps for the positive (red) battery cable.
6. Remove the hold-down clamp that keeps the battery in place.
7. Using both hands, remove the battery from its place.
8. Use baking soda and a water solution or a battery cleaning product to remove any corrosion from the hold-down clamp.
9. Clean off the battery cable connectors with a wire brush.

You can find the tools you need to remove the battery at our parts store near Capitola or online.

Step-by-Step Car Battery Installation Guide

Now that you have the old battery removed, the next step is to install the new battery.

1. Place the new battery in the tray and tighten the hold-down clamp around the battery.
2. Use an anti-corrosion solution if you have any, and spray the solution on the positive and negative terminals of the battery before you connect it.
3. Attach the red battery cable to the positive battery terminal and then attach the black cable to the negative battery terminal.
4. Check the connections and make sure that they’re secure and tight.
5. Try gently removing the battery to see if it’s secure.
6. Start the car to make that the battery is properly connected.

Now, you should be ready to take on the Scotts Valley roads. If you’re still having battery issues or don’t feel comfortable performing a DIY car battery installation, then schedule a visit with our service center at Santa Cruz Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

Get Car Battery Service at Santa Cruz Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Now that you know how to install a car battery, you can take the necessary steps to keep your battery and vehicle running like new on the Santa Cruz roads. Contact us for more service and parts information, to learn how long car batteries last, or vehicle repairs.