Checking & Changing a Dead Battery
By Levi Quinn
Sometimes there is nothing quite so annoying and depressing as turning the key in your car and having nothing happen. A dead battery can be a big setback because it can occur at any time for any reason. Sometimes it is due to the cold weather and other times the battery has simply reached the end of its lifespan. There are a few ways to check if your battery is completely dead or not. Even if the car won't start, the battery may just be low or affected by outside conditions.
If you find that your car won't start and you believe it may be the battery, you need to find out if there is still any power in it. Try re-charging it first with a battery charger. Hook it up properly and see if this helps to restore any power to the system at all. If nothing happens, the battery may be dead. Extremely cold temperatures can make this tougher. A charger may have to be left on for hours before a difference is obvious.
Double check that your battery terminals are all clean and there is nothing obstructing them. They can become corroded over time and that can lead to battery issues. Be certain that anything you hook to the battery like a charger is put on the right way to avoid giving yourself a shock of any kind.
Try using a volt meter to test the level of voltage that is running through the battery. If it gives you a reading then you know that there is some kind of power running through the car. If it gives you nothing then you know that the battery is dead. If there is no power at all within it you most likely will need a new one.
To take out the battery all you really have to do is detach the cable from the negative battery terminal and then do the same on the other side with the positive battery terminal. There is often a battery clamp as well to hold it in place. Make sure that this is also detached before you try to take the battery out. Be careful when you lift the battery out. Some of them are heavy and you don't want to drop it on any other engine components or on yourself.
Once you get the old battery out you should take a good look at the battery tray. There is a good chance that you will have to give it a quick cleaning before putting a new battery in. Don't skip this step or it will be even worse the next time. Putting the new battery in is the same as taking one out. Put it in the tray properly and reattach the cables. Make sure they are hooked up to the right side of the battery. Always be careful when changing the battery so that you don't get zapped.
Make sure the battery clamp is also reattached. If anything is not tightened or placed right, the car will not start. Changing a battery is fast and easy. Be careful and you will be back on the road in no time.
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