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How to Recondition Old Car Batteries in 3 Easy Steps
What did you do last time your car battery started to not hold as much charge as it used to? I bet you just got a new one installed. The problem is new batteries are expensive and the old ones contain all sorts of stuff that can damage the environment. Did you realize that in most cases it is possible to recondition old car batteries to their former glory. This will not only save you money, (a lot of money,) but also stops your old battery from damaging the environment. Read on to find the 3 steps you need to take to rejuvenate your old car battery.
The first step to be taken is test the voltage of your battery with a hand held meter. You’ll need to do this because if the voltage does not read at least 12 volts, there may be a faulty cell in your battery. You will need to carefully avoid wasting your time on batteries that are not economical to repair, and this voltage test is the first step in doing this..
It’ll be very important to complete this first step correctly, completely and well. If for any reason you cannot complete it correctly, and if the battery will not read 12 volts, it is probably best to move on to the next one. You can always go back and test each cell individually at a later date.
The second step is to test the battery fluid itself using a hydrometer, (available from your local car repair or hardware store.) Just dip it into each fluid reservoir, and suck a sample of the fluid up into its reservoir. The bulb should float in the green area on its scale. What you should avoid here is getting any of the fluid on your skin or clothes, as it is acidic and may burn. Also, if non-sealed battery has a.030 (sometimes expressed as 30 “points”) or more difference in specific gravity reading between the lowest and highest cell, then you should equalize the battery using a battery electrolyte fluid solution additive. These additives are available on-line or from car parts stores.
The last step is to fully recharge the battery. This is very important because if your battery is not fully recharged it may not prove reliable. What is important to avoid is when connecting the charger circuit always connect the red lead or positive first, and when finished disconnect the black or negative first. That way there will be no sparking at the terminals.
Go through the steps just as laid out above and everything should go well. You’ll have handled reconditioning an old car battery easily and rapidly. Just keep to the steps in order, for the reasons as explained, while carefully avoiding the traps, problems and potential mistakes mentioned. Then enjoy the fruits and great things about having reconditioned your own car battery. Remember this is a skill you can perform for others, and you cal also resell reconditioned batteries for much less than a new one. This will be money that you will have earned by your time and energy alone, as you can pick up old batteries to recondition free of charge.