As we all know that the battery of a car is a rechargeable power source of a vehicle. So it must be disengaged in order to carry out repair or replacements. The safety measures must also be followed when carrying out the task since it is also a source of electric energy.
It is very important for a car driver to learn how to take a battery out of a car to function in this vehicle properly. Without it, the operation of this vehicle’s components will not even start. Apart from repair and replacement, the car owner also has to disconnect it to verify its efficacy.
There are two major & primary reasons may need to remove the car battery:
(i) To replace it
(ii) Have it checked for efficacy
In either case, the basic process is remaining the same. Even though batteries have various degrees of power output, the only thing that can vary in the removal steps relates to the type of terminals a meticulous battery possesses. Here are a few key points to remember while replacing or removing a car battery.
How do know when a car needs a new battery?
Here are a few tell-tale signs when it needs to replace a battery. These are the most commonly encountered:
- When it is hard to start a vehicle, it turns over slowly or not at all – especially if the driver starter motor clicks instead of starting the vehicle.
- Dim headlights, sluggish indicators and other electrical problems.
- Warning lights or low voltage on voltage indicator measure.
- Corroded connectors or terminals coated with excessive discharge.
- A distorted, distended or leaking battery case.
- A car owner knows that the car battery is super old and hasn’t been replaced.
The apparatus which need to remove a car battery:
The below-mentioned tools are essential to remove a car battery successfully. The following are materials which need to prepare:
(i) Protective Gear: There must be wearing a set of safety goggles and gloves before to start this work.
(ii) Wrench: This is the best advice is to get a minimum of a 0.4-inch socket or wrench which is the common size to open the nuts in battery cables.
(iii) Pliers: This tool is adjustable and best to use. While using the wrench, a car mechanic or an individual needs this tool to keep the nuts or bolts in place.
(iv)Hammer: One to two valves can be helpful in flaking cables from its post, especially if it is firmly obsessed.
How to disconnect a car battery?
While dealing with an electrical source, here are some steps to remember how the car battery can be changed. Always take note that toxic electrical charge is emitted by the component.
Use Trickle Charger:
This device delivers electricity to the battery from a power outlet in a slow, steady and brook. There is no need to charge the car fast. A slow charge is better as batteries tend to hold the charge for a longer period of time with this technique. A trickle charger has an electric cord with a stopper and two jumper cables with alligator clips.
Clean the Battery Terminals:
It is very necessary to check the terminals of the battery and clean them. Keep in mind that do not try to touch the terminals if they are covered with a whitish powder. This is dried sulfuric acid and it can burn the skin if someone tries to touch it with bare hands.
Use a labor-intensive sandpaper pad to wipe around the terminals, or get a wet cloth and apply a layer of baking sodium carbonate to the cloth. Be aware and not to allow the solution to make contact with skin and clothing. Rub the terminals down with removal system, and ensure that they are ready to receive the wires.
Remove Cell Caps:
There is a series of small caps on different batteries. These are called cell caps, and they have to be removed before to use a battery charger. These types of caps are either on the very top of the battery or under a yellow strip which can be peeled on and off, some may have no caps at all. If the battery does have cell caps, they must be removed before to begin charging, otherwise, gases created by charging will not be able to flee into the ambiance.
Attach the Charger Cables:
The car must be turned off and then connect the cables or the wires to the battery terminals. There are two wires attached to the charger. The red color wire has to be connected to the red or positive terminal and the second is connected to the negative terminal.
Make sure that the two wires should not touch with each other. This is because the wires will flash when they touch; causing ignition of the hydrogen gas that surrounds the battery.
Turn on the Charger:
Once both terminals are allied and then connect the charger to the electric outlet. Turn on the current and the battery will start charge itself. Let the charger on overnight. Turn off the charger in next morning and then check the reading on it. If the reading is less than an ampere then unplug the charger.
Check the Battery:
After recharging the battery, find out whether it works. Use a hydrometer to test the amount of electric energy in the fluid or turn on the engine. If the battery still does not turn on, then it needs to be replacing it now.
Remove the cables:
Use a wrench to remove the nuts. Turning these nuts must be done in a counter-clockwise direction. After loosening the nut, drag the connector from the battery. It must be put aside to evade contacting with the car. Then perform the same for the positive connector.
Lift the battery:
When the negative and positive terminals are all removed, remove the battery. Disengage any bars, screws, or remaining clamps. Batteries are heavy so it is ideal to get assistance in lifting it.