5 Easy Steps to Remove a Car Battery

The car battery plays a vital role in providing power to the vehicle. Although it might not be the faulty part, you will need to remove a car battery for various reasons once a while.

Removing it may sound like a hard task, but disconnecting a car battery for storage or any other reason is a plain job. All you need is to get the right set of car battery removal tool, and follow the straightforward process.

Whether it’s for replacement or maintenance, removing your car battery just got simpler with this guide on how to remove a car battery. 

Safety Precaution for Removing Car Battery

If you abide by these measures and use the proper equipment, you are on a safe path to your car battery removal.

• Ensure to switch off your car ignition when trying to remove the battery. The flicker from the electrical parts can cause a fire with the explosive contents of the cell.
• Ensure you wear your complete protective equipment (rubber hand gloves) to avoid electrocution from battery charges
• It would be best if you also put on your protective eye cover to shield your face from potential splashes of the battery’s acid contents.
• When you remove the negative car terminal only, ensure you place a barrier between the two terminals. This measure is particularly important as it helps avoid contact of the ends and prevents sparks and electrical damage.
• You should ensure to separate the two ends of a battery wire with a zip snap so that they don’t join. You do this to avoid the incidence of flickers that could fire up the explosive substance in the battery.
• Ensure you remove the battery in a place that has enough air circulation. Preferably, do it outside the garage unless you have adequately aerated car park for the expulsion of toxic gases.
• In unique cases where you see that the wire connects directly to the battery head, ensure you make use of the proper equipment. You can get this equipment from a nearby vehicle repair shops.

Required Tools

• Flexible wrench or a pair of pliers: You can use it to take out the head of the bolt from the battery terminals. Ensure that the handles are covered with plastic to avoid electric shock. You can pack all these tools in a portable equipment chest.
• Safety Glasses: Since you won’t want to get injured in the eye, it is advisable you put it on whenever you’re working on a car battery. The reason is that Sparks or battery acid could splash into one’s eyes if no protective covering is worn.
• Hollow wrenches: for GM type battery terminals
• Wadded gloves: A standard car battery emits enough electric current to cause acute electrocution. Ensure to always put on the cushioned gloves before you work a car battery.
• Zip Straps: Zip straps are crucial as they are used to bind the electric cable together to prevent like heads from touching. The reason is if they come in contact, it could can short-circuiting and damage to the junction box.

Steps for Removing a Car Battery

Although the GM vehicles could require additional, you can remove most car batteries through this process. Let’s look at these steps.

Step 1: Locate the Negative Unit

Looking at the battery, you might find it confusing on which battery terminal to remove. First, take out the negative terminal. It usually has a black rubber indicator added to the negative sign (-) that is placed on the head or nearby.

Use the pair of pliers to hold the battery firmly to the platform and then loosen the screws with the wrench. Afterward, drag the negative wire off from the terminal and keep safely away from the battery.

Step 2: Locate the Positive Unit and Replicate Step One

Carry out the same process as with the negative terminal for the positive terminal. Also, safeguard the positive wire head with the zip straps when you remove it from the terminal.

It’s crucial to prevent the positive wire from touching the negative wire or any other part of the car engine. The reason is that the wire has a remnant charge that can hamper the electrical set up of the vehicle if you allow it to discharge.

Step 3: Detach the Protective Bracket

The protective bracket helps to grip the battery firmly to its platform. Without detaching this frame, you can’t move the cell from its position. So loosen the nuts of this frame with the flexible wrench and remove this frame altogether.

Step 4: Take Out the Battery

Once you’ve detached the protective frame, you can safely pull out the battery from its structure. Make sure your complete personal protective equipment (PPE) is on to avoid injuries.

Grab the battery by the handle and pull it from its position in the engine compartment. You should do this with care as car batteries are very weighty. Some can weigh up to 20kg, so handle with care.

Step 5: Take Out Any Barriers and Remove Battery

Take out any barriers hindering the battery. Any other remaining nuts loosen them and bring out the battery.

How to Remove a GM Post Type of Battery

There are various types of battery terminals in different cars in the world. Here’s a list of some of the battery types available for automobile.

• L-type battery terminal
• Stud type battery terminal
• SAE post battery terminal
• GM side /post battery terminal
• Combination type battery terminal

Among the battery terminal types, only GM post types require additional work as there are extra nuts that secure the battery in place. Below is a guide on how to remove a GM Post battery terminal.

Needed Equipment

• Rubber Hand gloves
• Ratchet flange
• Flexible wrench or a pair of pliers (for detaching battery frame)
• Safety glasses
• Set of sockets.

Step 1: Find Both Terminals

Locate the different terminals. The positive terminal has a red plastic cover and a plus sign by the side. The negative has a black cover with a minus sign nearby.

Step 2: Get the Proper Socket Size

Check the socket and ensure it’s the matching one for the terminal head. Usually, GM side terminal heads need the ⅜-inch outlet; you can confirm this by fixing the cavity on the terminal end. You can as well attach others to get the correct size of the device.

In the case that the terminals are in a corner with little space, use a ratchet extender to twist and loosen the head.

Step 3: Loosen Out the Head Screws

Turn the screws with the socket and ratchet you fixed in an anticlockwise manner. It would be best if you do the same for both the negative and positive terminals.

Ensure that both terminals don’t touch for any reason. Also, avoid rubbing it on any iron part of the engine.

Step 4: Take Out the Frame and Battery

Detach the protective frame and pull out the battery carefully, remember it is heavy. If you’ve tried and couldn’t disconnect your car battery, contact an expert.

Final Word

Ensure you follow the above steps carefully when you want to disconnect a car battery for storage. Always remember to call in an expert if you can’t carry out the process. But if you insist on DIY don’t forget to:

• Wear your complete PPE (safety glasses, boots, and plastic hand gloves)
• Ensure you switch off the car ignition before you do anything

You can leave a comment if there is anything you want to ask or add.