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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think I could change a car battery?

31 replies

BigBirthdayGloom · 17/05/2015 12:44

Never done it before, would be relying on a youtube video or wiki how. But cash is ridiculously tight, no breakdown cover, car won't start and have just been told (oh joy!) that garage said it would need a new battery soon last time it was in!
Is it complicated and could I do damage if I'm not experienced?

OP posts:
OrlandoWoolf · 17/05/2015 13:25

They are very heavy.

You have to think about what happens if you disconnect it. I would get a garage to do it. It's a quick job for them.

ComposHatComesBack · 17/05/2015 13:27

I had the same dilemma. Decided against it in the end. Principally because if you get battery acid on your skin and clothes it will burn right through. Also disposing of the old battery is difficult disposing of the old battery. I think municipal tips take them, but I'm some distance away.

Did you take it to a big chain or a main dealer? If so ring around a few local garages, in the end I got the battery + fitting at a local garage for 15 quid less than Halfords wanted for just the battery.

Fanfeckintastic · 17/05/2015 13:29

Dp changed mine using online advice, no previous experience of cars at all. He's become a dab hand now fixing little problems using YouTube tutorials etc!

londonrach · 17/05/2015 13:33

Its not a hard job. Dh not experience before he did it moved batteries around to get his car to work. However he did spend alot of time reading up how to do it before. I would never attempt it myself but do the expect lost female in garages ( which is sadly true). and usually get rescured by kind man. I have had window wipers and tyres changed for cost of wiper blade and tyre and once got puncture gone free which was unexpected. There are alot of very kind men in garages. How close is Halford?

Cassie258 · 17/05/2015 13:33

What car have you got? I attempted to do mine and my boss stepped in (thank god)

It's fairly simple and you could do it.

However, if money is tight, I wouldn't get a new battery until my car physically didn't start one day because of it. With the weather getting warmer you should be fine.

Do not go to halfords or similar.

Depending on your location in the country, go to a trade supplier. Euro car parts, Bedford battery, central auto supplies, Andrew page etc etc

Original poster
BigBirthdayGloom · 17/05/2015 13:35

We already have a car that won't start and a lovely letter from the rac saying that we have used up our call ours! We should have got it done last time, we're very silly. I'm considering a mobile mechanic-any experience of those?

OP posts:
ADishBestEatenCold · 17/05/2015 13:40

Think it depends on type of vehicle. Some are more awkward or more complicated than others. One that I failed to be able to change (on a horse box) actually had the simplest of fittings, but I couldn't properly reach or undo the screws holding it in to it's mounted casing/basket.

It is often not difficult though, so maybe you should have a look at the handbook for your vehicle, before deciding (or google it).
Also do a price comparison search, too. The cost of my most recent battery was only about a fiver more at my local garage, than at many of the national tyre/battery type companies ... yet my local garage (aside from being an hour closer) included fitting in the price.

Theoretician · 17/05/2015 13:42

Halfords will do it for £10. (But now see you can't get car to Halfords.) Etyres.co.uk will come to you home and fit it. Not sure how their prices compare. There must be multiple online companies who will do the same.

Breadkneadslove · 17/05/2015 13:42

No it's not complicated and perfectly achievable. Google the make and model of the car and you should be able to do step by step instructions. Wear old clothes and those latex gloves things if you have them and you will be fine.

Almostfifty · 17/05/2015 13:42

Can you get it jumpstarted and take it to Halfords? They'll do it for you for around £10.

AlternativeTentacles · 17/05/2015 13:42

I change mine when needed. I didn't realise it was such a hard job. Unscrew the fittings, take old battery out [usually held in place by a separate fitting], pop new one in and screw -ve and +ve fittings back on. Make sure the battery doesn't move by fitting separate fittings to hold in place. Job done.

ADishBestEatenCold · 17/05/2015 13:44

Oh ... and meant to add ... remember to look out the pin code for your radio, sat nav, etc. Once you take out your battery, these may 'lock'.

KPlunk · 17/05/2015 13:44

It's definitely worth researching it before paying someone. I have done all sorts of things with the help of you tube videos. It's the first thing I turn to when something breaks.

KPlunk · 17/05/2015 13:47

I forgot to add that I would take photos and I would label everything as I go along. I do things like this slowly and methodically.

Original poster
BigBirthdayGloom · 17/05/2015 14:42

I think we aren't quite brave enough to do the change it ourselves thing. Going to check out etryres. Had a quick look and for £15 more than rac will charge for a call out this month (had an unusual run of call outs as previous car was slowly dying and renewal at end of month) it looks as if etryres will provide and install battery. Just got to double check type of battery and do a price comparison. But I think I should start being a bit more competent around cars!

OP posts:
Cassie258 · 17/05/2015 14:45

Rac and aa charge the earth for batteries.

Can no one take you to a shop to get the battery?

Can you get a mobile mechanic?

Have you got work tomorrow?

OrlandoWoolf · 17/05/2015 14:52

I feel the need to mention the word immobiliser. It seems important.

BoneyBackJefferson · 17/05/2015 18:04

Late to the thread but

If you don't already have the tools to change the battery it can cost as much to get them as pay someone else to do it for you.

Elefant1 · 17/05/2015 20:07

Changing the battery is an easy job. I changed the leads for the spark plugs on mine and didn't even think about it when I had to take the battery out to get to them. Just make sure you get exactly the same battery as they can have slightly different shapes to help keep them in place.

Oldraver · 17/05/2015 20:09

Disposing of an old car battery isn't hard...we can leave ours (and I have) with the recycling

RagstheInvincible · 17/05/2015 20:49

It is a simple and straightforward job (one of the few things under the bonnet that I can do) but:
(1) car batteries weight a ton, make sure you can lift it,
(2) wear rubber gloves just in case there should be some acid leak (unlikely, but they will also serve to keep your hands clean,
(3) make sure you connect the leads back up correctly so mark the cables (tie a bit of cord round one of them) so you know which one came from the positive and which from the negative.

Apart from that it's just a matter of undoing the clamp that holds it in place and undoing the leads, taking the old one out, putting the new one in and doing everything up again.

Original poster
BigBirthdayGloom · 18/05/2015 13:19

Just to finish this off-just spoke to etryres. They're coming out tomorrow am and will supply and fit battery for £64. Just for anyone who's searching battery fitting in the future, and I'll try and remember to post how good or otherwise the service was!

OP posts:
Cassie258 · 18/05/2015 14:07

Depends on car but sounds very reasonable. Well doneGrin

LurkingHusband · 18/05/2015 14:37

I'd wager that if (like us) you get 3,4 scrap merchants a day up & down, that they'd gladly fit the new one, if you gave them the old one (2 birds, one stone).

DrDre · 18/05/2015 14:50

It should be an easy job, but it does depend on the car. Some cars have unusual 'clips' to connect the cables to the battery - I find these harder to attach than the older ones. Depending on where the battery is located, you should just need a spanner to do the job. A socket set can be useful if the fitting that attaches the battery to the car is in an awkward position.
Once it is fitted put some vaseline or similar on the terminals to stop them furring.
Finally, make sure the connections are tight and secure. If a wire comes loose the engine stops! It happened to me once, fortunately on a quiet road!

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