You can replace your car battery in less than an hour.

You’ll need working gloves, safety glasses, a wrench and your car owner’s manual. You’ll need a stiff brush and a cup of water with some baking soda to clean the battery terminals.

And of course, you’ll need a new car battery to replace your old one. (If you’re not sure which battery you need, look up your battery here.)

Before you begin, make sure the keys are out of the ignition, the car is parked and the engine isn’t too hot. Then take off any jewelry. Rings or necklaces can be hazardous when you’re working under the hood.

And look up the battery chapter in your owner’s manual for any specific guidance or safety steps you need to follow for your vehicle. If you don’t have yours, you can look up owner’s manuals online, collected from the automakers’ sites.

Now, here’s how to replace a car battery.

1. Remove the negative terminal. Usually it’s a black cable with a minus (–) symbol. Loosen the terminal clamp and slide it off the battery post.
2. Remove the positive terminal. The red cable, usually, with a plus (+) symbol. Loosen it and slip it off the battery post.
3. Remove the bracket. It’s a metal bar to hold the battery down. Just unscrew the rods and lift it off.
4. Pull out the old battery. Lift the 30- to 40-pound battery straight up and set it aside.
5. Clean the cables. (Optional but we recommend it.) Dip your brush in the baking soda-water mixture and scrub the terminals individually.
6. Set the new battery in place. Keep the terminals from touching the battery posts while you put it in.
7. Replace the bracket. Set the bar in place and screw its rods back in.
8. Connect the positive terminal. Tighten the bolt firmly but without excessive pressure.
9. Connect the negative terminal. Again, without excessive pressure. Lead is a soft metal.

Now try the ignition and you’re good to go! 


About that old car battery: Proper Disposal
Drive your old battery to your nearest auto repair shop. They know how to dispose of it properly. Do not throw it away yourself.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, service or assistance. Always seek the advice of your automotive technician or other qualified automotive provider with any questions you may have regarding service to your vehicle or battery.

There may be little or no warning; however, if any of the following happen, your battery should be tested immediately:

• The motor has difficulty turning over.
• The battery indicator light on the instrument panel stays lit for extended periods after starting. This could also be a mechanical issue (possibly the alternator) and should be checked by a professional mechanic.
• Headlights dim when the engine is idling.
• The clock starts to lose time after the vehicle sits unused for several days.

NOTE: To maximize a vehicle's battery/charging system service life and performance, Interstate Batteries recommends a vehicle's battery and charging system be tested at least semiannually or every time the oil is changed.

 

Car batteries typically last between 3 to 5 years, but several factors will affect the life of a battery, including:

• Hot and cold temperature extremes
• High electrical use
• Drive time

You can click on the "Find My Battery" button at the top of this page and enter your vehicle information, visit your local Costco to consult the Interstate Batteries Application Guide or ask a Costco Tire Center employee for help. You can also check with the Tire Center about special order options.

A standard/starting battery provides the power to start a vehicle and support standard electrical accessories. In contrast, an AGM battery is designed to provide the superior power, reliability and safety needed for many of today’s vehicles. Including vehicles with start-stop technology and multiple power-hungry extras like GPS, entertainment systems and more.

If your vehicle came equipped with an AGM, or your vehicle needs a power upgrade and an AGM is specified for your vehicle.

You will most likely need a 10/11 mm socket and a socket wrench to replace the battery.

NOTE: Make sure always to wear protective eyewear, gloves and an apron or other protective clothing when replacing a battery. See the next question for exact safety details.

Removing an old battery

1. Remove the negative (black) cable first
2. Remove the positive (red) cable second
3. Check for hold-downs that may also be used to secure the battery
4. Keep the battery vertical/straight when removing it

Installing a new battery

1. Keep the new battery vertical/straight when installing it
2. Line up the new battery with the correct terminals
3. Attach the positive (red) cable first – opposite of removing a battery
4. Attach the negative (black) cable second – opposite of removing a battery
5. Secure hold-downs if applicable

If you have questions about any of the steps above, be sure and check your owner’s manual.

Use extreme caution when handling electrolyte, a sulfuric acid/water solution that can damage clothing and skin. Keep an acid-neutralizing solution available, such as baking soda.

Lead-acid batteries contain hydrogen-oxygen gases that can be explosive and sulfuric acid that can cause severe burns. To help avoid the risk of danger and injury, observe these precautions when handling or working with a lead-acid battery:

• Wear the proper eye, face and hand protection.
• Make sure the work area is well-ventilated.
• Never lean over battery while jump-starting, testing or charging.
• Cigarettes, flames or sparks could cause a battery to explode. Keep all ignition sources away from the battery.
• Remove all hand and wrist jewelry. Jewelry could make electrical contact and cause severe burns by touching the terminals.
• Always shield eyes and face from battery.
• If the electrolyte is splashed into an eye, immediately force it open and flood it with clean, cold water for at least 15 minutes. Get prompt medical attention.
• If the electrolyte is taken internally, drink large quantities of water or milk. DO NOT induce vomiting. Call a physician.
• Neutralize any spilled electrolyte with a neutralizer like baking soda. After neutralizing, sweep the area and dispose of materials according to federal and state guidelines.
• Mixing acid can be hazardous. Do not attempt without proper training.
• Do not charge or use booster cables or adjust post connections without proper instructions and training.
• KEEP VENT CAPS TIGHT AND LEVEL.
• KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.

In the event of an accident, flush the affected area with water and call a physician immediately.

Just return it to your local Costco. You will even receive a core credit as a reward for your recycling efforts.

A battery core charge is a deposit paid when you purchase a battery. That fee can be retrieved by recycling your old battery, as mentioned above.

A 36-month limited replacement warranty supports all Costco car batteries.

Costco Interstate batteries offer the same reliable power as Interstate batteries, but a different warranty program supports them.

The age of a car battery can be determined using the battery date code. The code is a two-digit code stamped into the cover as part of a longer code or on a battery's top or side label. The battery date code indicates when the battery was shipped from the manufacturing plant and is read as follows:

Letter - indicates in which month the battery was manufactured (Example: A is January, B is February, C is March, etc.)

Digit - indicates the year in which the battery was manufactured (Example: 9 for 2019, 0 for 2020, 1 for 2021, etc.)

For example, an automotive battery date code that starts with "B1" would be February 2021. In February 2027, this battery would be 72 months old.

Yes. The most common effect is the battery rapidly dying; however, a battery that swells and becomes hot to the touch is also a direct result of overcharging and can be very dangerous and even explode. A good indication of overcharging would be the smell of rotten eggs during charging. The battery is producing extremely flammable hydrogen gas.

Never smoke or have open flames around a battery at any time. Always use the correct charger when charging a car battery, and have it checked periodically by a technician if charging must be done frequently. Pay attention to labels that indicate exactly how the battery should be charged; this helps eliminate overcharging and possible harm and injury.

Several factors affect an alternator's ability to charge a battery adequately. The most significant factors are:

1. How much current (amps) from the alternator is diverted to the battery to charge
2. How long the current is available (drive time)
3. Battery temperature
4. Battery age

Generally, running the engine at idle or short stop-and-go trips will not recharge the battery effectively.

In the following situations, the alternator will not adequately recharge a battery:

1. The battery is drained because an interior light was left on in the car for 18-24 hours.
2. The battery is drained because the vehicle has not been driven for a month or more.
3. The car is only driven at 35 miles per hour to a nearby store and back 2 or 3 days a week.

Hot weather means high temperatures under the hood, which accelerates corrosion inside the battery. It can also cause water to evaporate out of the battery's liquid electrolyte. This can result in decreased battery capacity, a weakened ability to start an engine and, ultimately, shorter battery life.

The battery's Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) is an essential measure for good cranking ability in cars, trucks and boats. CCA is the amount of current or amps a battery can provide at 0 °F (−18 °C) for a 30-second duration until the battery voltage drops to unusable levels.

For example, a 12-volt battery with a 650 CCA rating means the battery will provide 650 amps for 30 seconds at 0 °F before the voltage falls to 7.20 volts for a 12v battery. So in freezing temperatures, a higher CCA level is required to crank your engine. Also, as more cranking power is used, the amount of battery power available decreases.

Marine/RV Batteries - These batteries have starting power and power the many creature comforts in today's boats and RVs. These batteries have thicker lead plates and typically have threaded posts and the standard SAE automotive posts to connect to the vehicle's battery cables.

Golf Cart Batteries - Unlike automotive batteries, golf cart batteries don't need starting ability. Instead, they need to be able to power your cart with long periods between charges.

Lawn and Garden Batteries - Interstate's lawn and garden batteries can power up your mower week after week. They're also designed to tolerate the high vibration created in most mowers, which helps them last longer.

Powersports Batteries - These factory-activated absorbed glass-mat (AGM) batteries are spill-proof, maintenance-free and come charged and ready to go. Find the right battery for your motorcycle, ATV, personal watercraft and more.

NOTE: Specialty battery selection may vary by location, so call your local Costco Tire and Battery Center or click on the "Find My Battery" button at the top of this page.

You can also search Costco.com for battery charger and battery charger/maintainer options.