There may be telltale signs that your battery in your car is beginning to die, they don’t last forever and if you start to notice that your headlights are dimmer, or it’s been between three to seven years since you’ve had a new battery then it may be time to install a new battery. While you could go to a mechanic and have the battery swapped for a new one, doing it yourself is a pretty relatively quick and easy process in most models of cars and vans and won’t require too many tools to accomplish either.

Find out the exact issue

Before changing the battery the first thing you need to do is make sure that your battery actually does need to be replaced.

• Look for a sulfate build-up around the terminal, this can be white or blue residue and cleaning this can sometimes resolve the issue with a battery acting up. A build-up of this residue often indicates that there’s a bad seal around the battery terminal and acid is leaking out onto them. If there is a build up, don’t touch it with bare hands as it will likely contain sulfuric acid and will burn your skin.
• Give the battery a chance to recharge by driving your vehicle constantly for about 30 minutes or so. You’ll want to minimize the use of electrical components including the AC to ensure that power isn’t used in other areas aside from charging the battery.
• Check the alternator, some vehicles have a battery meter, while the engine is running the alternator will hold a charge between 13.8-14.2 volts if the charging system is functioning properly. With the battery off it should have a 12.4-12.8 volt reading.

Quick & easy steps to replace the battery

Once you’ve verified that the battery does need to be replaced, these are the steps you should take to replace the battery quick and easy.

• Buy the proper replacement– Make sure that you buy the correct battery to replace the one you currently have. If you’re unsure, bring the car’s make and model along with the dimensions of the current battery to the store. Automotive batteries vary in size and capacity so you want to be sure you purchase one that will fit in your vehicle and provide the proper power capacity that your car needs.
• Use a memory keeper to preserve codes– A simple CMOS will keep the PIN codes and settings saved for your radios and navigation systems from getting erased when you disconnect the battery. If you don’t have a memory keeper then you’ll want to make sure that you have the PINS for your electronic equipment before you start or consult your manual before starting to see which devices will be affected.

Now that you’ve taken the proper steps prior to replacing the battery, replacing the old battery and installing the new one is a quick and easy process that should take you no time at all.

1. Open the hood and prop it up, most car hoods can hold themselves up. Be sure to know the exact location of your battery as some cars can have them in the trunk.

2. Find and remove the old battery. The battery should be extremely accessible and easy to find.

3. Find the battery terminals (positive and negative) and disconnect the negative terminal and then disconnect the positive one as well.

4. Remove the battery by unfastening the battery holder and removing any screws or clamps holding the battery in place. Lift the battery out using extreme caution as they can be anywhere from 30-60lbs.

5. Put the new battery in and clean the terminal clamps with baking soda and a wire brush. If you spot extreme corrosion then consider taking it to a professional mechanic for repair or replacement.

6. Once the terminals are connected correctly, connect all screws, clamps and bars that may hold the battery in place.

7. Apply battery lithium grease and spray the terminals with lithium grease, which will help to prevent corrosion buildup.

Don’t dispose the old battery in normal garbage

Once this process has been completed, you’ll want to take the old battery to be properly disposed of. Service garages, auto supply stores and recycling businesses all will accept old batteries which is important because throwing them into the normal garbage is not a legal option.