Archive for the ‘How to Change’ Category

How to Change a Car Battery

Monday, December 7th, 2009

If you’re a new car owner, trying to change a car battery Change a Car Batterymay seem difficult. But it really is simple, and understanding the process won’t take long to learn.

Required Tools and Materials

New car battery
Socket
Wire brush
Ratchet
Battery wrench
Battery puller
Battery cleaning solution
Anti corrosion solution

Step 1

Turn off the engine and lift the hood. When you find the battery, disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery. This cable is black. To do this, use a combination wrench to undo the nut. You can also use a battery wrench.

Step 2

Twist and pull the cable’s end off. Use the terminal puller if the cable won’t come off. Do not use a screwdriver. Prying it off may cause serious damage.

Step 3

To change a car battery, disconnect the positive battery cable. This is the red cable. Unlink it from the car battery the same way you detached the black cable.. You can use the socket to take off the battery clamp. You can use a combination wrench if you prefer.

Step 4

After step 3, you can remove the car battery (it’s on the tray). If the car battery has handles, use them to lift the object. If it doesn’t have one, carry it with both hands. Be careful; car batteries are heavy.

Step 5

Look at the battery tray before you change a car battery. If there’s corrosion, clean it. Mix baking soda with water. Use the wire brush to remove the corrosion. Clean the hold-down clamp using the same liquid mixture.

You can also use the brush to remove corrosion from the cables and other components. If there’s too much corrosion, use the battery cleaning solution. Follow the instructions for applying them.

Step 6

Install the new car battery on the hold-down tray. Fasten it using the battery hold-down clamp. To prevent corrosion, you can put anti-corrosion spray on the terminal ends (this is optional however). After you change a car battery, reconnect the positive and negative cables. Examine the connectors; if they are free to move, the car may not run.

Tips and Warnings

Battery acid is corrosive so make sure it doesn’t splatter anywhere else. Do not allow it to make contact with car paint. Old car batteries should be disposed off in recycling centers; do not dump them with regular trash.

Besides the recycling center, you can also bring the old car battery back to the store you bought it from. They’ll be able to dispose of the item properly.

Check your car manual before replacing the battery. The procedures above should work on most models. However, some cars may require additional steps.

Consult the manual for additional information. To avoid problems on the road, regular check ups of your car is recommended. Most car batteries have a warranty of 60 months; check yours to see how long it is.

After you change a car battery, double check all the connections. Connecting the cables to the wrong terminals could damage the vehicle.

How to Change a Motor Cycle Battery

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

A battery is one of the highly important components of a motorcycle. Without it, Change a Motor Cycle Batterythis two-wheeled vehicle just cannot run. It is necessary to change it after some time, especially if it wears down after years and years of use. This task is moderately easy. However, it can be quite tricky when you do not know how to do it. In order to enjoy a smooth performance from your motorcycle, it is important to learn how to change a motorcycle battery.

Steps

The battery is usually located under the seat of the motorcycle. Open it and then find its access point. Lift the seat as well as the retaining strap. Find the case holder and then detach the battery. Before replacing a battery, it is good to check for signs of leakage or damage. Possible signs of these problems include crystallized acid deposits and crust buildup within the poles.

Disconnect the battery by taking off the connections from the leads. Between the two cables, it is better to remove the negative connection first. This can actually prevent the battery from shorting or sparking. Proper care is important when handling the battery because a shock from a battery discharge can cause a heart attack and severe burns. Next to the negative cable, slowly disconnect the positive cable as well.

If your motorcycle has a sensor, remove it together with the battery. After taking it off, replace the sensor with a new one. Wipe the connection points clean using a dry cloth. Be sure to remove the buildup of crystals or acids. Connect the new battery. The first one must be the positive cable and then follow it with the negative cable. Check if the new battery is okay by turning on the ignition.

Additional Tips and Other Helpful Information

Extreme caution is very important when handling the battery, especially when there is a leakage or damage. Crystallized acid deposits are corrosive, which can cause irreversible damage to the eyes. Likewise, they can also harm the skin.

When changing a battery, always keep in mind your safety. Use working gloves when handling the live electrical ends. In case you are planning to buy a new one, it is good to choose a better brand even though it is a little more expensive because it usually lasts longer than a low-quality battery.

When you are dealing with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, you need to know the exact battery model before changing. In addition, it is safe to check the installation instructions first before changing the battery.

How to Change Windshield Wiper Blades

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Since windshield wipers are among the many thingsWindshield Wiper Blades that we see every day it is easy to pay less attention to them. That is until it begins to pour real hard and then we are forced to replace them. It will only take you ten minutes to replace windshield wipers. The steps you need to follow to take them off and put the new ones on are quite simple. We often just procrastinate this relatively easy task until it really is just too late.

How to Replace Windshield Wipers

Replacing your windshield wipers will only take a few simple steps. First you need remove the old wipers and purchase new ones. Next comes replacing the new old ones with the new wipers. And finally you end with testing your new installation. That’s quite a simple overview but we’ll walk you through each step as we discuss the details below.

Remove the Old Wipers

When you replace windshield wipers, be careful not to scratch your windshield. Wiper arms are made of metal and all you need is a clumsy mistake to put a scratch on your windshield. To avoid doing so you should prop the entire arm in its raised position. While holding a wiper’s arm with one hand use your other hand to press on the tab located at the underside where the wiper meets the metallic arm.

From here you can pull it off by simply pulling the wiper towards the bottom. Take note that not all wipers will have that tab at the bottom since there are three different mechanisms that are used depending on the car manufacturer. Here are the three common ways of attaching the wiper blades to the arm:

Universal Slide: This is the one that has a tab underneath that you need to press in order to replace windshield wipers. This is the most common type of connection you’ll find among many vehicles.

Side Pin: You might also find quite a few of these when you try removing wipers off different vehicles. The locking mechanism here is a 7mm pin with a spring lock. You’ll need a flathead screwdriver to press on the springlock in order to pull off the wiper blade.

Bayonet Arm: This type of arm will have a locking lever that you need to lift. As you lift the lock slide the wiper blade off the metal arm.

Installing New Wipers

The next step to replace windshield wipers is to install the ones you just bought. New wiper blades will usually come with instructions on how to install them. Replacing these blades will be just as easy as removing them.

If you have a universal slide type mechanism all you need to do is to position the new blade underneath the hook and push it up. You know it’s installed when you hear the new blade snap into position. For the side pin just push the hole of your blade into the pin to lock it on. For the bayonet arm, just lift the lever as you slide the new blade in.

The final step to replace windshield wipers is to test your installation. Should you hear any squeaking or chattering, remove the wipers and put them back on properly.