Car battery repair: Car battery recovery and repair guide

Can the car battery be repaired? How is car battery repair done? All cars, including hybrid cars, electric cars, or cars with internal combustion engines, need a car battery to continue their operation. Unfortunately, the car battery is one of the components of the vehicle that is given less attention and its importance is not seen until the car starts and we do not have problems. Now in this situation as much as you want to turn the switch, in this situation these attempts to start the car are useless because a dead battery will not come back to life.

With these explanations, it is better to return to the main topic of the article. In this article, we will examine 12-volt acid batteries and talk about how to repair them in situations where the battery is completely dead. One of the very simple but expensive solutions in normal conditions with the same old batteries is to go to the nearest auto parts store and replace the car battery. But what we are talking about is that instead of spending money and replacing the car battery every time, what if you can charge it with full power? Naturally, in addition to reducing costs, such a method will make your work easier because you can repeat the battery recharge several times without buying a new battery.

What is a car battery?

The car battery is one of the most basic parts of the car manufacturer, which is the source of the car’s electrical system by storing the electricity needed by the car. The general capacity of the car battery is 12 volts, which depends on various factors such as the strength of the electrolyte, the number of battery plates, the amount of electrolyte, whether the battery is old or new, etc. This part in the car provides the necessary energy for starting, in addition, it provides the electrical energy needed to turn on the car’s lights, the car’s multimedia and broadcasting system, and the car’s air conditioning (cooler and heater).

Cars in the Iranian market that have an internal combustion engine rely on standard lead-acid batteries, or 12-volt black boxes. In some imported hybrid cars, a larger hybrid battery made of nickel-metal (NiMH) or lithium-ion (Li-ion) is placed, which supplies the power required by a small engine; This electric motor helps the internal combustion engine to improve fuel consumption. Plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles are usually equipped with lithium-ion battery packs to provide consumers with a pure electric driving experience.

What is car battery repair?

In supplying energy to a vehicle or device, the process of battery discharge occurs, which is also known as battery sulfation. This chemical reaction leads to the accumulation of sulfate crystals on the battery plates. More accumulation of crystals on car battery plates leads to many complications, including long time to charge, lower efficiency and lower charging capacity. The car battery repair process that we are considering in this article means renovating or renovating the battery; In this process, the sulfate crystals are cleaned from the battery surface and after refilling the electrolyte solution, the conditions for recharging the car battery are provided. After the renewal process, the car battery will have a new battery by recharging.

How to repair a car battery at home?

The items mentioned in this section are specific to acid batteries. First of all, it’s better to know that you don’t have to wait for the car battery to be repaired or renewed, you can make safety your priority and do it before the car battery runs out. With a quick visual inspection, you can determine whether your car battery needs to be repaired or rebuilt. In this examination, examine all the cracks, protrusions or broken parts of the battery; If the battery is not in good physical shape, it is better to buy a new battery.

The battery reconditioning process does not require special engineering expertise or degrees, and all that is required is safety precautions and your patience. Most of the items needed to repair a car battery can be found in any home. The list of necessary supplies for the battery renewal process is:

Necessary equipment for car battery repair:

• Protective Covering (This cover includes protective items including safety glasses, chemical resistant gloves and an apron.)
• toothbrush or brush
• Steel wool or battery terminal cleaner
• flat screwdriver
• funnel
• Two large buckets
• Required materials:
• A gallon of distilled water (tap water cannot be used for this because of the added chemicals).
• 450 grams of baking soda
• 450 grams of Epsom salt
• Specialized items:
• battery charger
• volt meter

Step-by-step guide to car battery repair

Wear appropriate clothes and be prepared: it is true that renovating a battery is not at the level of rocket science, but after all, it is considered a kind of technical work and it is necessary to observe safety precautions while working. Therefore, it is better to wear suitable clothes and start your work in a well-ventilated space.

Make a cleaning solution: Mix baking soda and water in a 2:1 ratio to make a watery paste. This compound is used as a battery cleaner and is also used to cover acid leaks.

Clean the battery: If the battery terminals are corroded, apply cleaning paste to the terminals and clean it with a toothbrush. The foaming reaction of the dough indicates that the solution is working properly. Use steel wool on dead batteries. Clean and dry the terminals thoroughly.

Check the voltage: connect the voltmeter to the battery, like turning on the car, connect the red cable to the positive terminal and the black cable to the negative terminal. A standard car battery consists of six cells, each of which produces about 2.1 volts of energy. Therefore, a healthy battery shows a voltage of 12.6. The voltage between 10 and 12.6 volts means that your car battery has the ability to renew, if the battery voltage is less than 10 volts, you need to replace the battery and there is no point in renewing or repairing.

Drain the battery cells: You may not have had the need to remove a battery from the inside of your car before, but now is the time to do so. Take one of the buckets and place half of the baking soda near you. Remove the battery cover and remove the cells from the cover using a flathead screwdriver.

Remove the battery and remove the protective rubber cover. Some batteries may have 6-7 caps, but some may have more or less. All of them must be removed

Empty the contents of the cells one by one and slowly into the bin. You can add baking soda while emptying the cells or after all the cells are empty. In any case, this will discharge the battery acid for safe disposal in any place; By doing this, you avoid possible risks in recycling waste.

In most cases, the battery does not have enough distilled water and this is the main problem. In this case, add distilled water and charge the battery. Remember that when you measure the battery with a voltmeter it should be between 13 and 14 volts.

Clean the battery cells: To clean the cells, pour the cleaning solution into each cell using a funnel. Then put the cell cover and battery cover in place carefully and maintaining safety. Now shake the battery for at least a minute, then collect the mixture and pour it into the acid waste bin that you set aside in the previous step.

Replace the battery solution: In this step, mix four cups of water with 120 grams of Epsom salt. Stir the solution well until it becomes clear. Using boiled water speeds up this process but is not necessary. Using a funnel, fill the cells with new electrolyte solution. Cover and shake again to distribute the salt evenly.

Recharge the battery: Do this step very slowly, in a safe and secure environment, with patience. As a precaution, remove the battery caps as the electrolyte may heat up and spill during charging. Place the charger as far away from the battery as possible and connect it at 12V/2A. At this stage, you have to wait for the battery to charge for 36 hours.

Test the car battery: Disconnect the charger from the battery and use a voltmeter to check the condition of the battery. The normal battery voltage is about 12.42 volts, if your car battery voltage is lower than this number, you need to charge it again for another 12 hours. When you are ready to go, after re-installing the battery and turning on the switch or the car’s ignition key, test the battery with the light on. After a few minutes, try the battery again while under load. If the voltmeter reads 9.6 volts, it’s time to say congratulations! You have successfully rebuilt your car battery.