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HOW TO CHECK & CHANGE YOUR CAR BATTERY |
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We all dread
this day.
The day the car won't start!
A flat battery!
And all the jump-starting in the world isn't going to bring
that battery back to life. |
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How to replace a
battery |
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Before even
beginning these simple steps, heed some safety advice: THE
CAR'S IGNITION MUST BE OFF! Your battery also contains a
highly flammable solution, so you should work in a
well-ventilated area. It's a good idea to wear protective
eyewear and gloves as well. |
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Step 1 -
Make sure the battery needs to be changed |
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You don't
want to jump the gun on pronouncing your old battery "a
goner" without doing some checking first. If your battery
has cracks in it, look no further. Replace it. If not, take
a look in the battery terminals before making a decision.
The battery terminals are the positive and negative knobs
that attach wires to the alternator. Sometimes corrosion on
the terminals is the problem. |
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Note:
Most places that sell
batteries will test your battery for free and advise you if
a new one is required or if a good charge is all you require |
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Removing the
leads and cleaning the contacts may solve the problem.
Weather can also cause your battery problems. Open the vent
caps to check the solution inside. If it’s low, top it up
with distilled water and try charging the battery. |
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Step
2 - Remove the old battery |
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Once you've
determined that you do need a new battery, get ready to
remove the old one. Before you start, check to see if you
radio is security coded and that you have the code. If you
don't have the code, you may want to take your car to your
local garage who should should be able to fit you a new
battery using a code saver. Undo the clamp, which holds the battery
in position, and then, carefully unfasten the battery bolt
that holds the negative clamp to the negative battery
terminal (very important that you do the negative terminal
first!), now undo and remove the positive clamp.
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At this
point, get a firm grasp on the battery and remove it from
your car. After the battery is removed, spend a little time
cleaning out the terminal clamps and battery tray with a
baking soda/water solution. Terminal clamps can also be
cleaned with a wire-brush or coarse emery-paper. |
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Step 3 - Fitting the new
battery |
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When buying
the new battery, be sure to buy the correct size, output and
terminal orientation for your car. Most battery sellers can
advise you, as can your owner’s manual. |
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Carefully
position your new battery in the battery tray. Make sure
that the positive and negative terminals are on the proper
sides, and then screw on the bracket so that the battery is
held in place. |
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Put the
positive cable clamp over the positive terminal and tighten
the clamp (very important that the positive is done first!)
and then connect the negative cable . Your car should now
start. You will almost certainly need to re-enter your radio
security code at this point. |
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Step 4 -
Recycle your old battery |
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The
importance of this step can't be emphasized enough! Your
dead battery is highly toxic and must be disposed of
properly. You may be able to take it to your local garage,
but we recommend taking it to a recycling centre (local
refuse tip) where they will make certain that the material
can be used again. |
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The Car Doctor is
operated by |
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