As previously discussed in Mr Fix It a dead battery is a common problem. Once you’ve established that the battery needs changing you can change it yourself quite easily and here’s how.

If you keep needing to jump the battery and it is more than three years old, chances are you need a new one.

Make sure you get the correct type of replacement battery which should be clearly marked on the old one, if in doubt bring the old one with you before you purchase the replacement.

Make sure the car is parked on a level surface and isolated from the house and other cars.

Electricity is not the only danger with batteries, they also contain sulphuric acid which can burn your skin and produces a flammable gas. Put on gloves and use safety goggles. Disconnecting the battery will lose stored information such as radio settings and Sat Navs. You can buy are memory keeper that you plug into the cigarette lighter to stop this happening, if not make sure you have all your codes to re-input them when the new battery is installed.

Identify the battery terminals, the positive terminal will have a plus sign and the negative terminal will have a minus sign. Disconnect the negative terminal first by loosening the cable clamp with a wrench and slide it off of the terminal. If the cables are unmarked, label them so that they don’t get mixed up then do the same with the positive.

Unfasten the battery holder and remove any screws, clamps or bars holding the battery in place. Carefully lift the battery out of the car and then clean the terminal clamps and the battery tray.

Place the new battery where you just took the old battery out, with the positive and negative terminals on the correct sides. Connect all the screws, clamps or bars that may hold the battery in place. Reconnect the positive terminal first and tighten the clamps and then do the same with the negative.

Spray the terminals with battery lithium grease to prevent corrosion which you can get from any motor factors. Close the bonnet and start the car and check that all the electronic systems are working properly.

You should dispose of the battery at a mechanics or your local civic amenity centre.

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