How to Remove a Truck Battery

How to Remove a Truck Battery

Your used truck’s battery starts the vehicle, keeps it running, and helps power the electrical components. However, you may need to remove the battery and replace it when the charge runs down or if you need to inspect it for any signs of damage. Good news – this is a fairly simple service task that you can do by yourself near Logan. However, there are things to do to avoid hurting yourself. Learn how often to replace a truck battery and how long batteries last in our guide below.

Truck Battery Removal: The Preparation

Many drivers may not realize that your truck’s battery holds enough charge to deliver a deadly shock, and because of that, it’s essential that you’re wearing insulated work gloves when removing the battery. It’s best to also wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from corrosive agents. First, turn off your truck since running vehicles can produce a spark and ignite flammable materials.

You should also:

• Have zip ties or another type of restraint handy to keep the battery cables in their proper place. If they touch, it creates sparks and becomes a fire hazard, so remember to keep them from touching.
• Cover the positive cable end with a cloth once it is removed to avoid the risk of metal-to-metal contact.
• Take off any jewelry to prevent getting a shock if they come in contact with the battery.
• Ensure you’re in a well-ventilated area to prevent exposure to harmful gases.

If the terminal is fused, you’ll need to use the special battery cable removal tool to loosen it. This tool is available at our the Truck Ranch parts department.

Truck Battery Removal: The Removal

Once you have everything, follow the steps below to safely remove your truck battery:

• Identify the positive and negative terminals. Positive terminals will have a “+” or color-coded red. Negative terminals will have a “-” or color-coded black.
• Loosen the bolt holding the negative terminal.
• Remove the negative cable first.
• Follow the second and third steps to remove the positive terminals.
• Lift the battery and remove it from the truck.
• Inspect the battery terminal clamps, and clean or replace them if it’s necessary.

How Many Volts Does a Truck Battery Have?

If you’re interested in testing your car battery, you’re probably wondering how many volts it has. A fully charged truck battery should measure at 12.6 volts or higher. If your battery measures 12.4 to 12.8 volts, it’s in good health.

It’s always good to test your battery and electrical system a couple of times a year when you bring your vehicle to your Logan-area service center for its routine maintenance. However, you can test your battery right at home by following these steps:

• Start your car and turn on your headlights.
• If the lights are dim, they may be running on your battery.
• If the lights get brighter when revving the engine, the alternator may be producing some current but not enough when idle to keep the battery charged.
• If the level of brightness is normal, even with the engine revved, your battery is healthy.

Learn More Service Tips With Truck Ranch

At Truck Ranch, we’re proud to offer specialized service tips to ensure your pickup truck keeps performing at its best, so it’s safe for the American Fork roads. Learn more service tips like how long truck brakes last, how to change your spark plugs and how often to rotate your tires with our team today! You can also learn about the best undercoating for trucks!