Chevrolet
Equinox 12V Automotive Battery Replacement Guide
How to change a weak or dead 12 volt car
battery in a 3rd generation 2018 to 2022 GM Chevy Equinox SUV.
2018 Equinox 12V Battery |
Open "+" Plastic Cover |
Positive Terminal Exposed |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third
generation (2018, 2019 and probably also the face-lifted or revised 2020,
2021 and 2022 model years) GM Chevrolet Equinox SUV in changing a weak or
dead 12 volt car battery in the engine bay of the Ecotec 1.5L turbocharged
inline four cylinder motor. The procedure should be the same or similar for
models with the Ecotec 2.0L turbo I4 engine and the diesel 1.6L I4 engine. Owners of other General Motors vehicles from Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Holden such as the Trax, Blazer, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, Cruze, Malibu, Impala, Camaro, Cascada, LaCrosse, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Regal, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CTS, XTS, CT6, Astra, Commodore and Trailblazer may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) 12V battery group size is "48" (also known as "H6") and the genuine General Motors part number is ACDelco 48AGM. A compatible replacement aftermarket 12 volt car battery is the Optima DH6 YellowTop AGM. The tools needed to complete this procedure include a socket set with an 8mm socket, a 10mm socket, a 13mm socket, a short extension bar with a 1/4" or 3/8" drive ratchet and a plastic automotive pry bar tool. The first two steps are to open the hood and then move to the right (driver) side of the engine bay. The 12V battery is situated behind the electrical fuse box and in front of the coolant reservoir bottle. Flip open the plastic cover over the positive "+" terminal. |
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Release Retaining Clip |
Left Side Retaining Clip |
Power Distribution Board |
Then pull up the
edges of the black plastic cover on the power distribution board to release
the retaining clips.
Swing open the cover from the top of the power distribution board. |
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Loosen "-" Counterclockwise |
Pull Off Negative Terminal |
Cover & Tuck Away |
Loosen the nut on
the negative "-" terminal, by turning it in the counterclockwise direction
with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" or 3/8" drive ratchet. Pull the negative terminal off the "-" battery post, wrap it in a small towel and tuck it away behind the battery to help prevent accidental electrical contact. |
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Loosen Positive Terminal |
"+" Terminal Removed |
Remove 13mm Nut |
Loosen the 10mm nut
on the positive "+" terminal a few turns in the counterclockwise direction. Pull the positive terminal off the battery post. Remove the 13mm nut that connects the smaller ring terminal to the larger positive battery terminal by turning it in the counterclockwise direction. |
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13mm Nut Removed |
Pull Off Positive Cable |
Remove 13mm Nut |
Set the 13mm nut
aside in a safe place. Pull off the positive (red) cable from the power distribution board. Remove the 13mm nut that secures the negative (black) cable to the power distribution board. |
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Two Nuts Removed |
Pull Off Negative Cable |
Pry Up Retaining Clip |
Set the 13mm nut
aside with the other one.
Pull the negative cable off the power distribution board. Gently pry up on the retaining clips that secure the power distribution board's case with the plastic pry bar tool. You'll still need to disconnect the small ring terminals. |
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Small Electrical Connector |
Slide Out Red Lock Tab |
Power Plug Removed |
Move to the rear of
the battery and locate the small electrical connector. Slide out the red plastic lock tab. Push in the black plastic release tab and remove the electrical connector from its socket. |
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Pull Off Plastic Mount |
Set Aside Wire & Connector |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Pull the wire
harness off the mounting bracket. Set the wire and connector assembly aside with the other pieces that were removed. Loosen the three small nuts on the power distribution board with the 8mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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Pull Off Ring Terminals |
8mm Socket & 1/4" Ratchet |
Remove 13mm Nut |
Pull the small ring
terminals off the power distribution board. The small 8mm nuts are "captured" and will remain attached to the board. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Final Ring Terminal Off |
Remove Distribution Board |
Loosen the large
ring terminal (marked as "500 Amps") by turning the nut in the
counterclockwise direction with a 13mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratchet. Lift the power distribution board off the top of the old battery and set it aside in a safe place. |
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Loosen 10mm Nut |
10mm Nut Removed |
Remove Right Side Nut |
The black metal
battery clamp or "hold down bar" is secured by two 10mm nuts.
One nut is located on the right side of the battery and the other is situated at the front edge. Remove the two nuts by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with a 10mm socket and a ratchet. |
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2nd Nut Removed |
Battery Hold Down Bracket |
Rear - Hook & Slot |
Set the two 10mm
nuts aside in a safe place.
Lift the hold down bar off the top of the old battery. Remove the hook on the rear edge of the clamp from its slot attached to the battery tray. Set the hold down bar aside in a safe place. |
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Lift Off Plastic Box |
Battery Box Removed |
Remove Old Battery |
Pull the black
plastic heat shield cover off the top of the old battery. Set it aside for re-installation later on. Raise the two plastic handles on the top of the old battery. Carefully lift the old battery out of the engine bay. |
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Old Battery Removed |
ACDeclo 3787 48AGM |
Clean Off Battery Tray |
Gently set the old
battery on the ground. Try to avoid dropping or tipping over the old battery to prevent from having acid leak out. The original battery in this 2018 Equinox Premier (Ecotec 1.5L Turbo I4 engine) was the ACDelco 48AGM. Clean off any debris on the battery tray so that the new battery will rest evenly on it. |
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Lower In New Battery |
Lower Heat Shield Box |
Battery Box Replaced |
Carefully lower the
new battery down into the engine bay. Avoid making contact with the battery posts to prevent from being electrocuted. I'd recommend wearing gloves. The negative "-" battery post should be situated on the right (driver) side of the engine bay and the positive "+" battery post should be closer to the left (passenger) side of the car. Lower the plastic heat shield box over the new battery. |
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Line Up Hold Down Clamp |
Rear Hook In Slot |
Hold Down Bar In Place |
Lower the hold down
bar over the new battery. Re-insert the hook at the rear edge into its corresponding slot. Lower the two holes over the threaded posts at the right side and front edge of the hold down bar. |
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Spin On Right 10mm Nut |
Spin On Front 10mm Nut |
Tighten Nut Clockwise |
Spin on the two
10mm nuts a few turns in the clockwise direction. Tighten the nuts with the 10mm socket and a ratchet until they are snug. |
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Tighten Second Nut |
Lower Distribution Board |
Push Down In Place |
Lower the power
distribution board over the left side of the new battery and the positive
post. Push down on the board to secure the plastic retaining clips. |
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Replace Black "-" Cable |
Replace Ring Terminals |
Tighten 8mm Nuts |
Replace the black
cable to the post on the front right corner of the board. Replace the three small ring terminals to the left side. Make sure that the "1", "2", "3", etc. numbers match up. Tighten the 8mm nuts in the clockwise direction until they are snug. If you've had a problem with corrosion (white or blue powder) building up on the terminals, I highly recommend installing some felt anti-corrosion washers over the battery posts. They are cheap insurance against having to replace the battery terminals, cable or 12V battery prematurely. |
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Replace "+" Red Cable |
Replace Wire Harness |
Small Electrical Connector |
Replace the
positive cable (red) on the rear right corner of the power distribution
board. Re-attach the small wire harness. |
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Re-Connect Plug |
Slide Into Bracket |
Connector Secured |
Push the electrical
connector into place. It should "click" securely into the socket. Slide the electrical connector back into its mounting bracket. |
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Tighten Positive Terminal |
Close Black Plastic Cover |
Snap Cover In Place |
Push the positive
terminal over the "+" battery post.
Tighten the nut in the clockwise direction with the 10mm socket and a ratchet until it is snug. Try to avoid over tightening the terminal nut to prevent from cracking the battery post which could lead to an acid leak. Swing the hinged black plastic cover over the power distribution board. Pop the small cover back into place over the positive terminal. |
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Push On Negative Terminal |
Tighten Nut Clockwise |
12V Battery Replaced |
Push the negative
terminal on to the "-" battery post. Tighten the nut in the clockwise direction with the 10mm socket and a ratchet until it is snug. Double check that the new battery can not be moved, slid or rocked on the tray. If the new battery can be moved, tighten the nuts on the hold down clamp an extra turn or two. To test the new battery, start the engine and turn on the headlights. If you suspect that your alternator is failing, use a digital multimeter tool to check the voltage when the engine is running. If the alternator is working properly, the voltage on the battery terminals should be about 13V to just over 14V when the engine is running. If the engine is turned off, the new battery should read over 12 volts. For more, please check out all of my
2018-2022 GM Chevrolet Equinox DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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