Before you start this process, ask yourself ‘Do I have to do this myself?‘ The answer is no, our trained technicians can do it for you!
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To safely replace your own battery it is important to remember that you safety is paramount, wearing protective eyewear and gloves to minimize risk if battery fluid does fall.
- Put on your protective safety gear
- Ensure the car is in a well ventilated space or outside, if possible. This will minimize risk of explosion of the gases emitted for the faulty battery, if you are around any sparks.
- Lower the driver’s window enough to access the ignition keys via window.
- Turn off the engine, place into a neutral gear or park position, and put on the handbrake.
- Place memory minder into the cigarette lighter socket, and turn ignition key to turn the radio on.
- Remove the negative terminal first, then positive terminal and wrap the terminal securely in a rag to insulate from shorting to ground. (This precaution is necessary to avoid potential damage to the wiring and or electrics/electronics, as a terminal will be alive)
- Remove the hold down clamp, and carefully remove the battery, take note of the battery terminal positions, both positive and negative.
- Corroded steel parts should be cleaned and neutralized (Use bi Carb Soda), dried, and painted.
- Terminals should be thoroughly cleaned.
- Cable and starter motor connections should be checked and tightened if necessary. If you do not know what this is call or visit one of our Service Centres.
- If terminal clamps or cables are badly corroded, they should be replaced. Please call or visit one of our Service Centres.
- Clean the battery tray (similar to step #8); make sure no objects or sharp items can cause damage to the battery case.
- Check the height of the replacement battery to ensure there is sufficient bonnet clearance, to avoid terminals shorting/fouling on the closed bonnet.
- Place the new battery in the tray, ensuring it sits level and that terminal posts are positioned in the same position as the battery being replaced.
- Replace and tighten hold-downs securely so that the battery cannot move in the tray. Do not over-tighten as this can distort the plastic battery casing. Be sure to check that radiator fan, hoses and drive belts do not make contact with the battery.
- Re-fit cables and tighten terminals, (do not over-tighten) ensuring that the negative ground terminal is connected last.
- If a spark occurs during reconnection of the negative terminals, have an auto electrician check for a current drain at your earliest convenience or call or visit one of our Service Centres, tighten all connections. Note: Do not over tighten.
- Never hammer terminal connections onto battery posts, as this can damage the battery terminals or cause internal damage to the battery.
- Apply a coating of battery terminal protector or grease to the posts and bare cable connections.
- Carefully remove memory minder from cigarette socket or OBD port and start engine, check that charge warning indicator extinguishes, and the charge gauge (if fitted) shows a normal level.
- Check all radio and clock functions, to ensure no memory loss has occurred.
Remember, if the above steps are a little bit too much we can do it for you!
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