What do you do when your car’s battery stops getting charged? Most people just throw away the dead battery and purchase a new one, which is expensive. Do you know that there are refurbished car batteries that are almost equal in power but cost half of the new units? The good news is you can refurbish it at home and make it fully functional, saving money in the process.
All the automotive battery units have a specific lifespan after which they cannot retain the charge. However, you don’t need to throw them in the garbage can, for it is possible to bring them back to their functional state by following some steps.
Follow this guide to have refurbished car batteries at home:
Check the battery – The first step is to check the battery to see if it’s a 12V unit. These are lead acid-based units that have sulphuric acid as the electrolyte and lead terminals. Then, use a voltmeter to check the voltage. If it reads less than 12V, then it is certain that the battery is dead.
Prepare the distilled water – Boil half a liter of distilled water in a pot. Keep the heat of the water in between 333K and 348K, which is almost 30K below the boiling point. Mix a quarter of Epsom salt in the water and stir until dissolved. The water mixture (or electrolyte) is ready now.
SEE MORE:
Fill the battery up with electrolyte – To do this, you first have to drain the unit of the old electrolyte. You can do this by removing the battery’s cap (for a wet or flooded cell) or drilling through the sealed cap (for a dry or sealed cell). Use a funnel to pour the new electrolyte (a mix of distilled water and Epsom salt) into the cell. Be careful not to leave any air bubble inside the cell while pouring the electrolyte. Seal the opening with the battery cap or plug the hole (if it’s a dry cell).
Charge the cell – It’s the final step of preparing refurbished car batteries. You have to charge it overnight and then cool down completely before using again. The charger will be available at any car servicing shop. You can purchase it too. It is expensive but you can use it for years to come.
The new refurbished car battery will function as a new unit. The procedure of refurbishing a hybrid car’s battery will be a tad different, though. Check the following procedure if you drive a hybrid car.
The process is easy but you have to replace the module before reconditioning the battery. It is likely to cost around $700 to $800 but it’s going to last for another 6 to 7 years. Next, you have to remove all the caps and charge the battery for an hour. Replace the electrolyte (a mixture of acid and distilled water if needed) and recharge for a few more hours. That’s it! You now have a fully functional battery!
