Without the battery, your car just won't go. It provides the power needed to start the engine and get the alternator running. It also supplements the alternator by providing power to some of the electronics in your car. It's safe to say that without a battery, you won't be getting far.
But this is no reason to panic, you can quickly and easily swap out the battery for a new one if need be (best to have it checked though, a flat battery may just need a charge). Even if you don't have much DIY experience, a battery change shouldn't take you too long at all.
Related: Where can you test your car battery?
Tools you will need
- A new battery, correct for your model Mégane.
- 10mm socket
- Socket wrench
- Socket wrench extension
- Gloves and eye protection
How to
1. Switch off the car and apply the handbrake, ensuring that the car is in neutral/Park.
2. Pull the cabin release lever to open the bonnet - located in the passenger footwell.
3. Open the bonnet and secure it with the supplied stay.
4. The battery is located to the right of the engine, behind the passenger-side headlight.
5. The battery cover is either secured with two screws or two clips on either side of the cover. Undo these to access the battery.
6. Using the 10mm socket, undo the Negative (Black/-) terminal and move it one side.
7. Using the 10mm socket, undo the Positive (Red/+) terminal.
8. Trace the terminal to the support post and undo the 10mm nut holding it down. Move the terminal out of the way.
9. Undo the two 10mm bolts that hold the battery tie-down bracket in place. Note that these will only loosen but will not come off from the bracket entirely.
10. Remove the old battery, taking caution as it is very heavy.
11. The installation of the new battery is the reverse of the removal.
Watch a video of the replacement process here: UseTool
Recommended next:
Does a car battery charge itself?
