Car battery — Part 1 of 3
Wear gloves and eye protection before working near a car battery. Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and switch off the ignition.
Work in a ventilated area. Batteries can vent hydrogen gas, which is flammable. Keep sparks and open flames away from the engine bay.
Always remove the negative cable first, then the positive. This order avoids short circuits if a wrench touches grounded metal.
Photograph cable routing if the layout is unfamiliar. Tuck loose clamps aside so they cannot touch the posts while you work.
Series: Part 1 · Part 2 — remove and install · Part 3 — checks