How to Remove a Car Battery

Your car battery is crucial to the overall health of your Volkswagen vehicle. It helps start your car, keep it running, and it powers all the electrical components. If you notice signs of damage, or if it’s been a while, it may be time to remove or replace your battery. While it’s not an overly complicated task, make sure you’re doing it right to avoid injury with a few tips from the Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles service center!

Preparation

Batteries are powerful enough to power a car, which means they are also powerful enough to harm you. The most important step to replacing your battery is to wear insulated work gloves and safety goggles. Make sure your car is turned off, as running vehicles can produce a spark. After that:

• Get some zip ties or other form of restraint to keep the battery cables in their proper place. If they touch, it create sparks and become a fire hazard, so preventing them from touching is important.
• Cover the positive cable end with a cloth once it is removed to avoid the risk of metal-to-metal contact
• Take off any jewelry — including necklaces, watches, and bracelets — to prevent getting a shock if they come in contact with the battery.
• Ensure you’re in a well-ventilated area to prevent exposure to harmful gases.

If the terminal is fused, use a special battery cable removal tool to get it loose. You’ll find these available from the Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles parts departments and general auto parts stores.

Removal

Once you’ve properly prepared, follow these steps to safely remove your battery:

• Find the negative terminal. It should have a black plastic cover or a minus sign and will be located either on the post or in close proximity.
• Take hold of the bolt head of the negative terminal with a wrench or pliers and hold it still.
• Use other pliers or wrench to remove the nut, then pull off the negative cable and secure it away from the battery.
• Repeat the above step for the positive cable, taking care that the two battery cables do not touch
• If the battery is held by a securing bracket, use your pliers or wrench to take out the screws and bolts that hold it in place.
• Lift the battery straight out of the bracket. Keep in mind that it may weigh up to 40 pounds.

Learn More at Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles

For more information on how to safely remove your car battery, or for other helpful maintenance tips and tricks like how to unlock a steering wheel or how to change your oil, take the trip from Springfield or Alexandria to  Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles! We can also teach you how to distinguish between a bad battery and a failing alternator. If you have any questions, be sure to contact us.

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