How to Disconnect the Battery Cables From a Car

Installing your own battery can save you labor charges from your local service station. Cars are now equipped with more electronic equipment that can make this once simple procedure a little more challenging. The procedure is the same, but the after effects could be problematic. With the right tools and equipment, this can still be done in your own yard.

Things You'll Need

• Battery saver (recommended) Assortment of hand wrenches or variety of sockets and proper ratchet. Battery terminal cleaner Battery terminal protectant Pair of channel locks (optional)

Instructions

1. Lift hood and determine where the battery is and size up the tools you'll need to remove the terminals. Insert battery saver into the vehicle's cigarette lighter plug or power outlet source. This will help maintain the computer in the car and not create a reset mode which can make the vehicle run poorly for a while until driven and it self-learns. In some cars, like Honda's, it can also prevent wiping out radio codes which will have to be obtained by the dealer or repair shop and incur expensive charges.

2. Determine where the terminals of the battery are located. Most terminals are located either on the very top of the battery and hand wrenches can used. Some terminals are located on the side of the battery, like most GM vehicles, and can be removed using a shallow 8 millimeter socket with a ratchet.

3. Loosen the nut on the negative terminal first. A top mount terminal may need to be wiggled to loosen from the battery post. A pair of channel locks can easily convince the terminal to move if the nut is loose enough.

4. Loosen the nut on the positive terminal and repeat the procedure.

5. Clean both terminal ends with a terminal cleaner. There are spray on terminal cleaners, but the recommended one is the handheld tool with the wire brush. Clean battery posts as well if you're replacing terminals on the same battery.

6. Reapply battery terminals after cleaning by starting with positive terminal and then the negative terminal. Ensure the nuts are tight and the terminal end cannot move on the battery post.

7. Spray terminal protectant onto terminals to minimize corrosion. Close the hood. Remove the battery saver.