This guide will walk you through replacing the 12V battery in a 2016–2020 Honda Civic. This repair is essential when the battery no longer holds a charge or the car struggles to start.
Before you begin this repair, make sure that the car is off and parked on a flat surface. If you have driven recently, wait until the engine cools before you begin. Wear gloves and safety glasses to avoid injury.
Caution: When disconnecting the battery cables, always start with the negative terminal first, then disconnect the positive terminal. When reconnecting the cables, connect the positive terminal first, then the negative. This helps prevent accidental short circuits.
Lift the battery out of the engine bay using the handle on top.
Place the new battery into the compartment with the negative terminal at the top (farthest from you) and the positive terminal at the bottom (closest to you) as you stand in front of the hood.
Make sure the new battery is orientated like the old one to ensure correct terminal connections.
Get into your car and start it to ensure the new battery works properly.
You may see warning lights for systems such as the lane departure, collision mitigation, or radio code entry. These should disappear after 5–10 minutes of driving or a manual reset depending on the system.