How to Remove a Car Battery

You can think of your car battery as the heart of your car. It starts your engine, and then pumps power to all the electrical components. Occasionally, you’ll need to remove and replace the battery when the charge runs down, or remove it to check for signs of damage. Removing a car battery is a relatively simple task, but it’s crucial that you know how to do it safely. Read below for a step-by-step guide on how to remove a car battery from the Bowman Chevrolet service center.

Removing a Car Battery: Preparation

Car batteries hold enough charge to deliver a deadly shock, so it’s important to gather protective equipment and take key safety steps before you begin:

Protective Equipment:

• Safety goggles. Stay on the safe side and protect your eyes from corrosive agents.
• Zip ties. Zip ties (or other forms of restraint) can help keep the battery cables in their proper place while you remove the battery. Cables that touch by accident can create sparks and become a fire hazard.
• Two sturdy wrenches or pliers.

Safety Steps:

1. Choose a well-ventilated area. Proper ventilation prevents exposure to harmful gases.
2. Turn off your car. Running vehicles are liable to produce sparks and ignite flammable agents.
3. Cover the positive cable end. To avoid metal-to-metal contact, cover the positive cable end with a cloth.
4. Remove jewelry and watches. Take off any metal necklaces, watches, or bracelets to prevent a shock if they contact the battery.

If you discover your battery terminal is fused, you can get it loose with a special battery cable removal tool. Your local dealership parts center or auto parts store should have this tool readily available.

Removing a Car Battery: Step-by-Step

With your preparations in place, take the following steps for removing a car battery safely:

1. Identify the negative terminal. Usually located either on the post or nearby, it should be under a black plastic cover and marked with a minus ( – ) sign.
2. Remove the negative terminal nut. Grab the bolt head of the negative terminal with a wrench or pliers, and hold it securely. With your second wrench or pliers, remove the nut from the negative terminal. After removing and setting aside the nut, pull off the negative cable and secure it away from the battery with a zip tie.
3. Repeat step 2 for the positive ( + ) cable. Using the zips ties, secure both cables to ensure that they do not touch.
4. Free the battery. If the battery is held in place by a securing bracket, use your pliers or wrench to remove the screws and bolts.
5. Remove the battery. Lift the battery straight out of the bracket. Be prepared that car batteries can weigh up to 40 pounds.

Learn How to Remove a Car Battery With Bowman Chevrolet

Questions about removing your car battery and inspecting it for proper function? Bowman Chevrolet technicians at our Clarkston service center can make sure you feel confident removing a car battery safely. However, DIY battery work isn’t for every Clarkston driver! If you’d rather leave this task to the experts, schedule service and our team can take care of it for you. We’re proud to offer parts and service specials to Waterford and Grand Blanc drivers!