Download Article Show Download Article Your car battery does its job unnoticed for the most part, so if you do need to disconnect it, you might find yourself at a loss. Never fear, wikiHow is here! There are a lot of car repairs that you should really trust to a mechanic, but disconnecting or replacing the battery in a gas-powered car is not one of them. Whether you're disconnecting your battery to recharge it, replace it, or for some other reason, you can absolutely do this yourself and it likely won't take you more than a half hour, so let's get started. Things You Should Know
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Advertisement Things You'll NeedReferencesAbout This ArticleArticle SummaryX To disconnect a car battery, start by turning off the engine and opening the hood so you can access the battery. Wear eye protection when working with the battery to protect your eyes from sparks. Locate the positive and negative terminals on the battery. The positive terminal will be marked with a “+,” and the negative battery will be marked with a “-.” If there are plastic caps over the terminals, remove those now. Next, use a wrench to unbolt the negative battery cable. Be careful not to touch the negative and positive terminals at the same time with the wrench or you could create a spark. Lift off the negative battery cable and set it aside. Then, unbolt the positive battery cable and lift that off too. If the battery is still stuck, you’ll need to use a socket wrench to unbolt the clamp that’s locking the battery in place. Otherwise, lift the battery out of the vehicle, and you’re done! For tips from our reviewer on removing and cleaning your car battery, read on! Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,054,107 times. Reader Success Stories
If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Did this article help you?Which battery terminal should be disconnected first and why?Removal of Old Battery
Remove the negative (-) terminal first. This precaution is necessary to avoid damage to wiring and the battery by accidentally grounding tools. Remove the positive (+) terminal.
What happens if you disconnect the positive terminal first?It's important to disconnect the negative side of the battery first, otherwise you can cause an electrical short if the positive is removed first.
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