Repairing or replacing a car battery is an essential piece of maintenance for any car. This can be due to repairing another part of the car (cutting off any electrical supply to the parts) or replacing the battery every 3-5 years. Knowing how to disconnect a car battery is therefore a useful skill for any driver to have.
In the guide below, we will explain how to disconnect a car battery step-by-step. You can find all the equipment you will need to perform this task, including spanner kits, at Euro Car Parts.
1: Locate The Battery
Before you start, turn off the ignition and remove the key; you should never perform any car maintenance whilst power is flowing to and from the battery.
To find the battery, lift up your car bonnet and prop it open with the latch. The battery will be comprised of two terminals and is usually at the front of the vehicle. If you can’t locate the battery, check your vehicle’s manual to find where it is positioned.
2: The Negative Terminal
The next step is to loosen the connectors on each terminal: negative and positive. Locate the negative terminal by looking for the ‘-‘ symbol and remove any plastic caps the battery may have.
With a spanner, loosen the nuts on the negative terminal by turning them counter clockwise. Once they are loose, detach the terminal’s connector cable and ensure it is not close to the battery. If the cable is firmly attached to the battery, you may need a removal tool from your local car parts store.
3: The Positive Terminal
Repeat the above steps with the positive battery terminal, which can be found by looking for the ‘+’ symbol. Again, make sure that the connector cable is not touching the battery once decoupled.
The battery will now be disconnected from the vehicle.
4: Remove The Battery
When the two terminals have been loosened, power will no longer flow to the battery. It can now be removed to either be replaced or perform maintenance.
To lift the battery out of the tray, use a spanner to remove the clamp’s bolts holding it in place. The battery can now be raised up safely and put to one side.
There are several things to consider when buying a new car battery. Check out our guide on the key points to be mindful of when replacing this essential car part.