How to Recharge a Car's Battery Easily
If your car battery is not completely dead you may be able to push start the vehicle or use jumper cables attached to another car's battery. Either of these easy methods should get your car's engine running, after which you should keep it running for at least 20 minutes to help retain the charge. If your battery is extremely flat, however, the best option is to use a battery recharger.
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Things You'll Need
- Jumper cables
- A second fully functioning vehicle
- Someone to help push
- Battery recharger
- Spanner
Instructions
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Push Start
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Put the car into second gear, switch on the ignition and press the clutch down. Note that this method works only on manual transmissions, not automatics.
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Push the car until it reaches 5 to10 mph. If the car is facing down a hill you may be able to push start it by yourself, simply by removing the hand brake and letting it build up speed. If not on a hill you are likely to require the assistance of others to push the car for you.
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Release the clutch quickly when the car reaches 5 to 10 mph. The engine should turn over. Press the clutch in again to prevent the vehicle from stalling. Once you have the car going, drive it for at least 20 minutes to recharge the battery.
Jump Start
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Position a fully functioning vehicle close to the vehicle with the flat battery. Make sure the vehicles' hoods are close enough that the jumper cables will reach from one battery to the other.
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Shut off the car being used to jump start your car. Open both hoods.
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Attach one end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of one car's battery and the other end to the positive terminal of the other. Attach one end of the black cable to the negative terminal of the good battery and the other end to the engine block of the car with the bad battery (not to the negative terminal of the bad battery).
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Switch on the ignition of the fully functioning car and rev the engine for a few minutes. Start the other car, which should now have enough charge to work.
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Run the engine of the car being charged for 20 to 30 minutes for maximum recharge of the battery. Remove the jumper cables in reverse order.
Battery Recharger
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Take the battery out of the car, using a 10 mm spanner to loosen the nuts and undo them from the clips. Always disconnect the negative terminal first. Remove the bracket holding the battery and its bolts in place using your spanner, then lift the battery out of the car. If your vehicle is parked in a garage near an electric outlet you could leave the battery in the car while it's charging. Remember to disconnect both battery terminals, though -- black first and then red.
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Ensure the battery is going to be charged in a safe area with lots of ventilation. Make sure it is away from young children, flames or sparks. Read the recharger instruction manual carefully.
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Check the labels on the battery to determine whether you must take off the cell caps while charging the battery. Some batteries do not have cell caps, but if yours does, they will be on the top of the battery, normally under a press-on strip. Take the cell caps off before connecting the battery charger.
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Look inside the cells once you have removed the caps, using a flashlight if needed. The cells (metal plates) should be covered with electrolyte, a mixture of acid and distilled water. If the plates are not covered, top them off with distilled water. Do not use tap water, which can damage the battery.
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Connect the black charger clip to the negative terminal of the battery and the red clip to the positive terminal.
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Plug in the battery charger and switch it on. Leave it overnight. In the morning the charger should indicate that the battery is fully charged. Switch off and then unplug the charger, remove the charger clips and refit the cell caps, or plastic strip.
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Tips & Warnings
If you find you have to charge the battery over and over, it could be time to get a new battery, or there could be something wrong with the alternator or other parts. Get the car checked by a mechanic.
Make sure you read manufacturer's instructions for all equipment, such as battery rechargers.
Batteries can explode, so always wear eye protection.
References
- Photo Credit closeup of jumper cables image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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A brand new battery will only deliver about 40% of it's capacity at freezing point...that is why a cold battery often will not start your car. In cold weather even a jump start may not work...the best is to charge your car's own battery with another car first, before depleting the last drop of power from your own. Connect the jumper leads as described, but first loosen the positive cable on the battery of the helping car slightly...still tight enough to start that car. Now wrench of that terminal carefully, while it is charging your car. Take care not to disconnect the crocodile clamp from that terminal, while doing so...as it can damage the boosting car's altenator if it happens. Hold the connection in your hand or place it on a piece of cloth or cardboard, so that it will not ground on the body of the car and short out. Let it run for 5 to 10 minutes...now all the power will go into your battery, full blast and heat it up slightly, instead of deviding it between two batteries... and while running, replace it...then start your car...100% better chance that it will go!
