Can you replace your car battery by yourself or should you have a professional do it for you?

Answer 1

Its an easy swap.... if:

1) You can lift the battery at least mid-chest high
2) You have the correct wrenches and/or sockets to do it.

Here's the basics, the socket/wrench sizes may vary:

put on some old clothes as battery acid residue will not hurt you (unless you wipe it in your eyes) but it will show up as holes in your clothes in a day or so - even if you wash them).

Get some rubber/vinyl gloves

a) Open the hood (duh.. actually that is sometimes the hardest thing to do on strange cars).

b) Remove the negative cable first (thats the black one) It usually takes a 1/2" wrench on top mounted posts or a 3/8" or smaller wrench or socket for side mounts.

c) Remove the positive cable and the mount that locks down the battery to the engine compartment (usually a 9/16" socket on a long extension does the job... )

d) Remove anything else that may interfer (on some GM cars there is a cross brace that blocks the battery. Just remove the nut an rotate the brace out of the way).

e) Lift out the old battery (hopefully there is a strap). Take it in and buy a new one (most shops want the old core back or they will charge you for it).

f) clean off the new terminals and clean of the cable ends with a little baking soda mixed with water.. When dry, use some steel wool to make the contact areas shiny.

g) If you have an anti-corrosion pad, install it now (not a bad idea - cheap insurance)

h) reverse the porcedure. Make sure to get the polarity of the battery correct (negative/black - positive/red) .... and Ta-Da.. all done. Quick, easy, and you will feel like Joe Mechanic

(now go reset all your clocks and radio stations before that feeling fades)

Answer 2

Most batteries can be replaced by the owner of the car. But I have seen some of the newest models have batteries that I might consider have a mechanic change for me. Unless your not comfortable with it, why spend the money to pay someone else to do something so simple?!!

Answer 3

If you can replace a battery in a flashlight, you can replace a car battery. Same concept--negative and positive.

But a lot of auto parts stores will install a new battery for free. If that is the case, let them do the work.

Answer 4

If you buy the battery at AutoZone or OReilly's you can ask the sales clerk to help you with changing it. They do this as a free service (at least in this area). That way you can watch how it's done and be able to do it yourself the next time.

Answer 5

Changing your own car battery is easy by yourself.One warning if you are not sure about something...Find out from either a book , friend , or people at the store.

Answer 6

I would have a professional mechanic replace my car battery rather than doing it myself.

Answer 7

if you got to ask don't do it, ask a friend that has a couple of tools and has done it before have them show you some parts places will be nice enough to do it for you,you have to go there for the battery anyway

Answer 8

Do it yourself--it's not difficult, just heavy. Make sure you get *exactly* the same size of battery, because there are different CCA (cold cranking amps), and bigger sizes for bigger starters. All you need is a wrench.

Answer 9

if you know where it is--save money by doing it yourself. make sure all the connections are tight when yo are done.
if you have unlimited financial resources, have it towed to a shop and they will do it for you.

it is one of the easiest jobs to do yourself in a maintenance program for your car.

if you do not know where it is, ask a friend.

Answer 10

Have someone do it for you show you how, most auto supply shops will help you install/test your battery, just ask.