The winter months may be taxing on your life and your schedule. It can be, however, just as taxing on your new or used Toyota. Extremely cold temperatures and harsh weather conditions can take their toll on the engine and its components of your car, truck, or SUV. It forces your vehicle to work harder to reach a point of working at its maximum efficiency. Harsh conditions bring on a slew of problems for many drivers; one of which deals directly with the battery of the car. Your battery will drain much more quickly during the winter months than any other time of the year.
If you are operating a vehicle with an older battery, you may find yourself having to replace it in the dead of winter. Changing a battery is fairly easy and can be done by most drivers without having to visit a certified technician.
When switching out an old battery for a new battery, be sure to begin with the engine completely off. Locate the battery under the hood and begin loosening the necessary materials to remove the battery. Remove the black, negative cable from the battery. You may experience some difficulty removing this component as it has probably never been moved since the battery was installed. It may easier to remove it with the use of a battery terminal puller. This is a tool specially designed for this task. Do not attempt to use whichever tool is lying around. If done incorrectly you may end up doing more damage than good.
Follow this step with the removal of the red, positive cable. After doing so, the battery should be completely disconnected from the vehicle. Lift the battery out of the vehicle. It will probably be heavier than you’d expect.
Once the old battery is removed, check the vehicle connections for any corrosion or other material that will need to be removed. It is necessary that you have a clean connection from the vehicle to the new battery for optimal performance.
Finally, install the new battery being sure to secure all necessary connections. Determine how and where you will be able to dispose of the old battery. It cannot be thrown in with the run of the mill trash. It must be disposed of in the proper receptacle.