Acura: How to Replace Battery

This article applies to all V6-powered Acuras: TL, TSX, TLX, RDX, ZDX, and MDX.

When a car won't start, its owner typically goes straight to a worse-case scenario first, namely that the alternator or starter is bad. In most cases, it's just the battery. Often times, when you attempt to start the car, you'll hear the relays going nuts like a rapid-fire clicking noise, but nothing happens. If you have no lights, no power, and (obviously) it doesn't start, then the issue is most likely the battery. If you haven't had it changed recently, or ever, it is almost always a battery problem. They don't give you warnings usually, but if you are lucky, you may see the interior or the headlights dim as you start your car. Once started, then all is normal again. If this is the case, consider yourself lucky because that is your warning that your battery is low on juice.

If all of your lights came on normally, and you hear a single click or nothing at all as you turn your key, then you probably have a bad starter, but definitely not a bad battery. If you are faced with a dead battery and can get a jump to get you moving again, go directly to your nearest auto parts store and get a new battery straight away. If you can't do that, then go get a battery and take it back to your car. You can change a battery in a matter of minutes almost anywhere with no mechanical knowledge at all. Even the auto parts store personnel will likely change your battery for free, so please do not call a tow truck to take your car to a pro to have it done for you. You could very well possibly overpay for the new battery and give your money to someone to install it for you when you can easily do this yourself.

Step 1 – Locate the battery

Pop your hood, and your battery will be hidden under a cover on the right front side of the car. The cover just pops right up, no tools needed. Remove the cover and set it aside.

Step 2 – Disconnect the battery

Once the cover is removed, you'll see your battery. It just sits on its tray, connected by a black and a red cable. The red cable is positive, and on the battery itself, just above the post, you will see a "plus" symbol. On the right is the black, negative cable, and the battery will have a "negative" symbol on it just above the post. These red and black cables are securely fastened to the post by a little bracket with a 10 mm nut that tightens to hold it tightly to the post. If you have a little socket set with a 10 mm socket, loosen the nut to loosen the cables. If you don't have a socket, a 10 mm box wrench or a crescent (adjustable size) wrench will do, and if you are in a real bind, a set of pliers can also do the job. Always remove the negative first, then the positive.

Step 3 – Remove and replace battery

Once the battery terminals are removed, you can pull the battery up and out of the car for replacement. Be careful because these batteries are deceptively heavy. Set the old aside and install the new. Make sure that you clearly indicate your make, model and engine type of your Acura to ensure that you get the correct replacement battery for your car. Before you walk out with it, make sure that the positive post is on the left and the negative is on the right. Simply set the new battery down onto the battery tray and connect the positive terminal to the positive post first, and the negative terminal to the negative post last. Hand tighten the nuts on each terminal only; you need not torque or put a lot of effort into it. Just make sure that you can't turn, slide or move the terminals off their posts without considerable effort. Replace the battery cover, close your hood and start her up. You need not let it idle for any length of time, just start her up and go.

Featured Video: Acura TL Starter Replacement/Battery Removal

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