Testing your car battery is a routine auto maintenance task that’s easy to forget. Skipping this task may cause your battery to die without warning, so find out how your local AutoZone can test your car battery for free. Receive free battery tests twice a year and shop for the best car batteries when it’s time to retire your old one.
How To Remove Your Car Battery
AutoZone’s free battery test may show that your battery needs to be replaced. Most lead-acid batteries last between three and five years. After that, it’s important to shop for automotive or power sports batteries. Your local auto parts specialist can remove a battery for free, but here are the steps to remove a battery in the comfort of your garage.
First, you’ll need to gather the proper equipment. An old battery may have extension corrosion or a small leak, so it’s best to wear safety glasses and nitrile gloves when working with it. You’ll need a few hand tools, a safe place to store the battery, and a new battery to complete the replacement process. If there is a lot of corrosion on the battery cables, you may need to clean the cables before installing a new battery. Don’t attempt to clean up corrosion while a battery is connected. Use a professional cleaner or a mixture of water and baking soda to scrub away the corrosion.
Your battery has a positive and negative terminal, with a cable attached to each. The negative terminal should be gray or black and have a minus symbol on or near it. The positive cable is usually red, has a positive symbol, and is covered by a plastic protective case.
Never attempt to touch the positive terminal while both cables are connected. Be cautious to never connect the battery terminals with a wrench or other tool. Starting with the negative cable, carefully remove it and set it to the side. Remove the positive cable in the same way once the negative cable is safely away from your battery. Most vehicles have a strap or clamp holding the battery in place. Carefully remove that and remove the battery. Watch for any leaks, as this is a highly corrosive acid.
Batteries shouldn’t be stored for long or disposed of improperly. Both lead and acid are hazardous materials, so stop by a local recycling center or auto parts store for safe and responsible recycling. Your local auto parts store is convenient for testing, recycling, and replacing your car’s battery.
AutoZone Free Battery Testing
Bring your vehicle or the battery on its own to find out if it needs replacing. A free test can determine whether your battery is fully charged, partially charged or fully discharged. A fully discharged battery has typically reached the end of its usable life and should be replaced.
Learn more signs of how to tell if your battery is dead and shop for a replacement battery today. You may have a starter issue if your battery isn’t dead and your vehicle isn’t starting. Otherwise, a new battery will quickly and affordably restore your vehicle’s performance.
