Strategies To Avoid Hurting Your Back When Removing Your Car Battery
When your car battery dies, you can have your vehicle towed to the nearest auto garage — or, if you're the do-it-yourself type, you can remove the battery, take it to your automotive parts store to safely dispose of it and then buy a new one. Removing your car battery isn't difficult, but you need to make sure that you don't strain your back or any other parts of your body in the process. Car batteries are heavy; on average, your battery will weigh nearly 40 pounds, which means that you'll need to use proper lifting mechanics and a special tool to make the job as easy as possible. Here's how you should approach this task.
Make Sure It's Completely Loose
It might seem simple, but it's imperative to ensure that your car's battery is completely loose before you attempt to lift it. Pulling on it before it's loose can cause you to pull hard and strain your back. In addition to removing the two battery cables that connect to the terminals on the top of the battery, there's also often a bracket at the bottom of the battery that holds it in place. This can differ by car, but it's typically easy to loosen and remove the bracket with a screwdriver or wrench.
Use A Lift Strap
A valuable tool for lifting your car's battery is a lift strap, which you can buy at automotive supply stores. Lift straps come in several styles but typically consist of a strap with a pair of clamps at each end. You stick the clamps to the designated lifting points on the sides of the battery and then lift upward. The length of the strap means that you won't have to bend over as much to get the battery out, which can lessen the strain on your back.
Be Smart About Your Lifting Mechanics
The lifting adage of "lift with your legs, rather than your back" may be a bit of a cliche, but it's also very true. If you bend your legs and use your leg muscles to propel your body upward when you lift, you'll be lessening the strain on your back. Try to lift the battery with your back as straight as possible; you don't want to exert yourself when your upper body is bent. Additionally, get as close to the car as possible so that you're not reaching far away from your battery. The battery is at the side of your engine compartment, so your body should be up against the fender of the car.
For more information, contact Battery Tree or a similar company.