When to Replace A Car Battery
Because the battery is such an important piece of equipment, it can often take more wear than other vital aspects of your system. Due to various weather conditions around Poway, your personal driving habits, and simply the BMW you drive, you may need to replace your battery sooner than anticipated. See below for the warning signs of a battery in need of replacement:
- Slow-cranking or sluggish start
- Low fluid levels in the battery
- The “Check Battery” light is illuminated
- Fluid leaking from the battery
- A swelling or bloated battery case
How to Replace a Car Battery
Now that you have an idea of how often to replace a car battery, knowing how the process works can come in handy on your Carlsbad travels. While many drivers prefer certified professionals for a car replacement service, if you’re interested in replacing the battery yourself, see the steps below:
- Take a look at your owner’s manual to see where your battery is located.
- Locate the positive and negative posts as well as the cables that are attached to them.
- Loosen the nut or bolt connecting the negative terminal and cable using a wrench. Make sure that no metal object touches both battery posts at the same time.
- After the nut/bolt is loosened, use a terminal puller to take the cable and terminal off of the negative battery post. You will do the same with the positive post.
- Remove whatever is holding the battery in place and take the battery out slowly and gently.
- Make sure the terminals are clean and free of corrosion.
- Put the new battery in place so that the red, positive post matches up to the positive terminal and cable’s location.
- Once the battery is inserted, secure it in place using whatever mechanism removed earlier.
- Take the plastic caps off of the battery posts and put anti-corrosion washers on.
- The battery posts and terminals should be covered in a thin layer of grease before connecting the positive terminal to the positive post (this should be done first). Use a wrench to tighten the connector. It should fit snugly. You will want to do the same for the negative terminal and post.
- Attempt to wiggle the battery so you know if it is in there securely. If everything is properly in place, you are good to go!
The Service Experts at BMW of Escondido Have You Covered
Sooner or later, old age will take your battery, but it doesn’t have to be a surprise if you keep an eye out for the warning signs from our BMW of Escondido specialists. Now that you know the answer to, “How much is a replacement car battery?” you should be ready when the time finally comes to change it out. Stop by Escondido at your leisure, or contact us for more service tips and tricks, like where to get a BMW suspension repaired, to keep you on the road.
