🔧 Altima - Battery Replacement

Your Altima’s 12V battery provides power to start the engine and run the car’s electronics. Replacing it is straightforward: remove the old battery safely, clean the connections, and install the new one with the correct polarity.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.5-1.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Wear eye protection and gloves—battery acid is corrosive.
• ⚠️ Remove metal jewelry (rings/watches) to prevent accidental short circuits.
• ⚠️ Always disconnect the negative (-) terminal first and reconnect it last.
• ⚠️ Keep tools from touching both battery terminals at the same time.
• ⚠️ Keep the battery upright—do not tip it.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• 10mm wrench
• 10mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 6" extension (3/8")
• 12mm socket
• Battery terminal brush
• Small wire brush
• Torque wrench (in-lb or Nm)
• Shop rags

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• 12V car battery (correct group size for Altima) - Qty: 1
• Battery terminal anti-corrosion felt washers - Qty: 2
• Battery terminal protectant spray - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to neutral, set the parking brake, and turn the ignition OFF.
• Open the hood and let the engine bay cool if it was recently driven.
• Have your radio presets/clock in mind—some settings may reset after battery replacement.
• Tip: Take a quick photo of the battery terminals.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Locate the battery and identify terminals

• Open the hood and find the battery at the front of the engine bay.
• Identify negative (-) (usually black cable) and positive (+) (often under a red cover).

Step 2: Disconnect the negative (-) terminal

• Use a 10mm wrench to loosen the negative terminal clamp nut.
• Wiggle the clamp and lift it off the negative post.
• Tuck the cable to the side so it can’t spring back onto the battery.
• Tip: Negative off first prevents accidental sparks.

Step 3: Disconnect the positive (+) terminal

• If there’s a protective cover, open it by hand.
• Use a 10mm wrench to loosen the positive terminal clamp nut.
• Remove the clamp from the positive post and position the cable safely aside.

Step 4: Remove the battery hold-down bracket

• Use a 10mm socket with a 3/8" ratchet and 6" extension to remove the hold-down nuts/bolts.
• If your hold-down hardware uses a different size, use a 12mm socket.
• Lift off the hold-down bracket and set it aside.

Step 5: Remove the old battery

• Lift the battery straight up and out (it’s heavy).
• Keep it upright and place it on the ground away from the car.

Step 6: Clean the terminals and tray

• Use a shop rag to wipe debris from the tray.
• Use a battery terminal brush to clean the inside of each terminal clamp until shiny.
• Use a small wire brush to clean any crusty corrosion on the hold-down bracket if needed.
• Tip: Clean metal-to-metal contact helps starting.

Step 7: Install the new battery

• Set the new battery into the tray in the same orientation as the old one.
• Reinstall the hold-down bracket using a 10mm socket (or 12mm socket if needed).
• Use a torque wrench to tighten the hold-down nuts: Torque to 7.2 Nm (64 in-lb).

Step 8: Reconnect terminals (positive first, negative last)

• Install anti-corrosion washers (if using) on the battery posts by hand.
• Reconnect the positive (+) terminal first. Use a 10mm wrench to tighten: Torque to 5.4 Nm (48 in-lb).
• Reconnect the negative (-) terminal last. Use a 10mm wrench to tighten: Torque to 5.4 Nm (48 in-lb).
• Spray a light coat of battery terminal protectant on the connections.
• Tip: Don’t over-tighten—battery posts can crack.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and confirm it cranks strongly.
• Check that the battery warning light is OFF.
• Turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock once (helps some systems re-initialize).
• Reset the clock and radio presets as needed.
• If idle is rough for a short time, let it idle a few minutes and take a short drive—this can be normal after a battery disconnect.
• Recycle the old battery—most parts stores take it back (often with a core credit).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $180-$350 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$260 (parts only)

You Save: $60-$150 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.5-1.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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