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How do you recondition batteries?
I was telling a friend that I need to buy a new car battery for my SUV, but she suggested I look into reconditioning it first. I don’t really know what she means by that, though. How do you recondition batteries? Is it cheaper to just buy a new car battery?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re sorry to hear that your car battery died. And yes, if a car battery is still viable, it can be reconditioned for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one. Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- Chemical-resistant protective, including an apron, goggles, and gloves. A face shield and long-sleeve shirt are highly recommended
- Flathead screwdriver
- Voltmeter
- Battery charger
- Two large buckets
- Funnel
- Toothbrush or steel wool
- One gallon of distilled water
- One pound of epsom salt
- One pound of baking soda
And here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Safety first! Wear your protective items and ensure the room is fully ventilated
- Make a cleaning solution in one of your buckets using 2 parts baking soda and 1 part water
- Clean the battery terminals with your cleaning solution and toothbrush, then wipe the terminals clean
- Use a voltmeter to determine the battery’s voltage. It should be between 10V and 12.6V. If it’s not, replace the battery
- Remove the battery cover and the cell caps underneath with a flathead screwdriver
- Slowly and carefully empty the liquid into the second bucket and use baking soda to neutralize the acid.
- Pour your cleaning solution into the cells
- Shake the battery aggressively for one full minute, then empty the cells into the waste bucket
- Mix four cups of distilled water and four ounces of epsom salt and stir until the water is clear
- Carefully refill each cell, using a funnel
- Shake it aggressively again, for another full minute
- Put the battery in a safe place, then remove the battery caps in case of an overflow
- Connect your charger and start it at 12V/2 amps. Give it 36 hours to recharge.
- You should now have a voltmeter reading of 12.4V to 12.6V
- Test it by installing the battery and turning on the headlights. Then test it again a few minutes later, and see if the voltmeter gives you a reading of 9.6V. If it does, you’re all set!
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