How do you change a car battery?

[geckojohn]

Okay, so I bought a replacement battery, but it's impossible to find out what type of rachet size I need to unscrew the battery holder.

What should I do? I hardly have any tools, so I need to buy something at home depot or Lowes. Should I just buy a tool chest with a variety of sizes?

 

[RKS]

yes

Sears usually has good sales. Everyone should have a basic tool set.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

Buy a cheap ratchet set at sears.

Sometimes when you buy a battery, they will change it out for free.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: RKS
yes

Sears usually has good sales. Everyone should have a basic tool set.

:thumbsup: You'll wonder how you ever got by without a ratchet set.

 

[Heller]

Originally posted by: 5to1baby1in5
Buy a cheap ratchet set at sears.

Sometimes when you buy a battery, they will change it out for free.

QFT, or spend the $10 and get installed 🙂

:thumbsup:

 

[pstylesss]

Do you have a hammer? That should do the trick.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: Heller

Originally posted by: 5to1baby1in5
Buy a cheap ratchet set at sears.

Sometimes when you buy a battery, they will change it out for free.

QFT, or spend the $10 and get installed 🙂

:thumbsup:

My battery was close to dead and I changed it in an AutoZone parking lot with their tools.

 

[geckojohn]

Originally posted by: RKS

Originally posted by: Heller

Originally posted by: 5to1baby1in5
Buy a cheap ratchet set at sears.

Sometimes when you buy a battery, they will change it out for free.

QFT, or spend the $10 and get installed 🙂

:thumbsup:

My battery was close to dead and I changed it in an AutoZone parking lot with their tools.

Will they usually let you borrow their tool set? Also, do most cars in metric or US for the bolts?

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: geckojohn

Originally posted by: RKS

Originally posted by: Heller

Originally posted by: 5to1baby1in5
Buy a cheap ratchet set at sears.

Sometimes when you buy a battery, they will change it out for free.

QFT, or spend the $10 and get installed 🙂

:thumbsup:

My battery was close to dead and I changed it in an AutoZone parking lot with their tools.

Will they usually let you borrow their tool set? Also, do most cars in metric or US for the bolts?

I think they would have changed it but they were busy. I had my 2 year old with me so it took a few minutes longer but it shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes. I changed it there because of the core-exchange charge.

The tools they had were just kinda thrown together in a plastic tackle box so they may vary between stores but I had my Maxima and didn't have any issues finding the correct size.

 

[DrPizza]

Sending this thread to The Garage
-DrPizza

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: geckojohn

Originally posted by: RKS

Originally posted by: Heller

Originally posted by: 5to1baby1in5
Buy a cheap ratchet set at sears.

Sometimes when you buy a battery, they will change it out for free.

QFT, or spend the $10 and get installed 🙂

:thumbsup:

My battery was close to dead and I changed it in an AutoZone parking lot with their tools.

Will they usually let you borrow their tool set? Also, do most cars in metric or US for the bolts?

For your Acura, you need a metric set.

 

[NutBucket]

10mm is the most common size for what you're doing.

 

[jagec]

$60 can get you a very good basic tool set, which will suffice for almost all automotive work.

 

[geckojohn]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
10mm is the most common size for what you're doing.

Yeah, that was the correct size - thank you.



Update! I installed the battery by myself! Went to Sears on the way home and purchased a metric rachet set. It took about 10-15 minutes and was pretty easy once I got started.

Thank you for all the tips.