How to Repair Car Batteries
A dead car battery usually prevents a car from starting. There can be a number of issues that prevent car batteries from functioning properly, such as a dead battery, faulty wiring, or dried up battery cells. You can repair a dead battery and bring it back to life with these simple steps.
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Things You'll Need
- Wire brush
- Baking soda, 2 teaspoons
- Water, 1 cup
- Jumper cables
- Flathead screwdriver
- 12-volt battery charger
- Wrench
- Pliers
Instructions
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1
Pull the knob beneath your steering wheel to open the car hood. Use the propping mechanism to keep the hood open.
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2
Remove the lid off the battery cells found on top of the battery with a screwdriver. Do not spill any water in the battery cells. Purchase distilled water and fill the cells about a ½ inch from the top. Place the lids back on.
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3
Use a wrench or pliers to remove the wiring from the "negative" and "positive" terminals of the battery. Clean both terminals of the battery with a wire brush. Also, apply the brush on the inner hole of the wiring. Prepare a mixture of 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1 cup of water. Pour the mixture on the battery terminals as well as wiring connectors. Reconnect the wiring to the car battery.
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4
Charge the battery with a 12-volt AC car battery charger, which is plugged into a standard 110V outlet. Connect the black clamp to the "negative" and red clamp to the "positive" terminal of the battery. Charge the battery until the meter indicates it is fully charged. Remove charger from the car battery. Place the propping mechanism back in its place, and shut the car hood.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not let the red and black connectors of the jumper cables touch each other.
Read safety precautions given in the charger's manual before use.
References
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Comments
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Disconnect the negative battery cable first, and connect it back last to reduce the possibility of arcing in case the metal tool grounds itself while removing the positive cable. Disconnect the battery charger before reinstalling the battery in the car. Never, ever disconnect the battery on a running engine in newer cars, else you risk a surge of voltage and a fried computer. Use the headlights as a voltage indicator to see if the battery is up to par when starting and if the alternator is charging once the engine is running the lights should be bright and not remain dim. Find yourself a knowledgeable and reputable technician and not just a mechanic and follow his advice like a family doctor or lawyer. You got to trust someone. Trust those that diagnose and repair and not just guess and replace.
