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How to revive dead car battery?

H

harore

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

Thanks.

harore
http://www.hobbyelectroniccircuits.com
 
J

JR North

Jan 1, 1970
0
It may have a shorted cell, which will cause the others to discharge
into it. If so, it's junk. Buy a cheap 4 ball hydrometer at the local
parts deal. A shorted cell will show no balls(whatever...)while a low
cell will float a couple-3. If all cells float some, it's still savable,
and prolly just sulfated. You can sometimes cure this for a while by
deep charging for several hours with a powerful charger, that can pump
30-40 amps continuous. A trickle charger won't work. Check the water
level also. If the level is below the plate tops, this will also cause
failure. I've gotten a couple more years out of sulfated batteries with
this method.
JR
 
J

JANA

Jan 1, 1970
0
After a number of years, usually about 4 to 5 years, the plates inside of
the car battery get eaten away from the acid, and the electrical activity.
The fix is to replace the battery.

--

JANA
_____


Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

Thanks.

harore
http://www.hobbyelectroniccircuits.com
 
Y

Yukio YANO

Jan 1, 1970
0
harore said:
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

Thanks.

harore
http://www.hobbyelectroniccircuits.com
Sounds more like a shorted diode in the alternator or a light or a
device of some sort is not shut down overnight. I would measure the
current draw on the battery with everything shut down. Only a few
milliamps is normal, battery backup for computer memory, anything more
like an amp or more means a light is on somewhere, more than that would
be a Shorted Diode in the alternator.

Yukio Yano
 
A

Arfa Daily

Jan 1, 1970
0
harore said:
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

Thanks.

harore
http://www.hobbyelectroniccircuits.com

Usually when batteries fail like this, it's getting to be towards the end of
the line for them. For sure, they can sometimes be 'rescued' by the
sulphation reversal techniques and so on that have been proposed, but with
winter coming on, do you really want to risk being out in the middle of
nowhere, with a dead battery ? My last one failed after showing no signs at
all, and after having just started the engine 10 minutes before without so
much as a squeak of complaint, so I would take your symptoms as a sign of
impending failure. Do the test of how much current is being drawn with
everything 'off', as Yukio suggests, and if that is ok, just go ahead and
replace the battery. There is no need to have any concern about the
environment if you dispose of it at a proper centre, as there is a very
robust recycling initiative in place for them in most countries.

Arfa
 
S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
JR North said:
It may have a shorted cell, which will cause the others to discharge
into it. If so, it's junk. Buy a cheap 4 ball hydrometer at the local
parts deal. A shorted cell will show no balls(whatever...)while a low
cell will float a couple-3. If all cells float some, it's still
savable, and prolly just sulfated. You can sometimes cure this for a
while by deep charging for several hours with a powerful charger, that
can pump 30-40 amps continuous. A trickle charger won't work. Check
the water level also. If the level is below the plate tops, this will
also cause failure. I've gotten a couple more years out of sulfated
batteries with this method.

A shorted cell won't discharge the rest of the battery.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 
J

Jim Yanik

Jan 1, 1970
0
There is no
need to have any concern about the environment if you dispose of it at
a proper centre, as there is a very robust recycling initiative in
place for them in most countries.

Arfa
In the US,most places that sell new car batteries accept old batteries for
recycling,and they usually have an extra charge if you DONT return the old
battery,as an incentive to not dump it.
 
J

Jumpster Jiver

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
There is no


In the US,most places that sell new car batteries accept old batteries for
recycling,and they usually have an extra charge if you DONT return the old
battery,as an incentive to not dump it.
Many places that replace car batteries will test your battery and
charging system for free or for a small fee.
It's worth the time to make sure a new battery wwon't be killed by a
faulty alternator.
 
V

vey

Jan 1, 1970
0
harore said:
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

Thanks.

harore
http://www.hobbyelectroniccircuits.com

I know this is going to sound dumb, but I had this problem once and when
I took it to a mechanic, it turned out to be a loose alternator belt. He
told me that and I didn't believe it and said so. The belt wasn't making
any noise and didn't slipping belts squeal?

He tightened it up and told me, "Look, I won't charge you anything. You
drive it this way for a week and if it doesn't work, you don't owe me
anything, but if it does, you owe me $10." I went back a week later and
paid him.
 
J

Jim Yanik

Jan 1, 1970
0
vey said:
I know this is going to sound dumb, but I had this problem once and when
I took it to a mechanic, it turned out to be a loose alternator belt. He
told me that and I didn't believe it and said so. The belt wasn't making
any noise and didn't slipping belts squeal?

He tightened it up and told me, "Look, I won't charge you anything. You
drive it this way for a week and if it doesn't work, you don't owe me
anything, but if it does, you owe me $10." I went back a week later and
paid him.

that is one courageous mechanic.

Returning and keeping such an honest man on your side is a wise
choice,though.
 
C

Charles

Jan 1, 1970
0
harore said:
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

If it is 5 years or older, replace it. Plate sulfation and high-resistance
internal connections are common after 5 years or so.

Other problems to be investigated: slipping belts and a defective
alternator.

Car batteries should be recycled. Please be kind to our planet since we are
sort of stuck here for the moment.
 
C

Charles

Jan 1, 1970
0
I replace mine after 5 years regardless.

Good idea. Depending on where one lives, they can go longer ... but there
is no substitute for reliability!
 
M

Meat Plow

Jan 1, 1970
0
If it is 5 years or older, replace it. Plate sulfation and high-resistance
internal connections are common after 5 years or so.

Other problems to be investigated: slipping belts and a defective
alternator.

Car batteries should be recycled. Please be kind to our planet since we are
sort of stuck here for the moment.

I replace mine after 5 years regardless.
 
J

James Sweet

Jan 1, 1970
0
harore said:
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.


First check your charging system, if that's working ok, replace the battery.
There's no way to restore it that will get you anything approaching reliable
performance from it.
 
P

philo

Jan 1, 1970
0
harore said:
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

With the exception of giving a sulfated battery a good charge...
there is no practical way to revive a battery.

However"

The battery is not necessarily bad...
the problem could be your alternator.

With the engine running, measure the voltage on the battery...
it should be approx 13.5 - 14 volts.

If it's under 13 volts...get it to a repair shop and have the alternator
checked.

However, if the voltage is OK then the battery is either bad...
or else there is a current drain somewhere.

You could try disconnecting the battery overnight to test that.


BTW: If it turns out that the alternator was bad...
if the battery is not that old...once the car has been driven for a while
and the battery is re-charged properly...
it will be "revived".
 
V

vey

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
that is one courageous mechanic.

Returning and keeping such an honest man on your side is a wise
choice,though.

Long since dead, I'm afraid. They don't make 'em like they used to.
 
Long since dead, I'm afraid. They don't make 'em like they used to.

I had a pair of Die Hards in my truck for 17 years. They were
manufactured in 1980 though. Finally failed 10 years ago. They really
don't make them like that any more.... Lenny
 
M

mm

Jan 1, 1970
0
Many places that replace car batteries will test your battery and
charging system for free or for a small fee.
It's worth the time to make sure a new battery wwon't be killed by a
faulty alternator.

Good advice. I knew how to fix cars, and just went to Sears to buy a
battery. I had just gotten the car from my brother and this was my
first step in fixing a long term problem. They said, Do you want our
Free two thousand thirty-five point multicheck? I figured why not.

They confirmed I needed the battery and found a bad connection, a
dirty one, where the + battery cable connected to the starter
solenoid.

The car was 3 years old and my brother had bought it new. The dealer
had, they said, replaced the starter, the battery, and the alternator
each twice, but never found the problem. Then after 2 years, they told
him his warranty had expired. Sears found it in 5 minutes.

It wasn't the end of my problems, but it was a good start. Whenever I
left the lights on for a few hours after turning off the car, the
connection would go bad. At first I took off the cable, used a knife
to clean the parts, and tightened it up again. Eventually I learned
to stick my arm under the car and just move the cable around the bolt
a little bit. Once I was on my way to a date and the car stalled and
woudln't start just as I was getting on to Lake Shore Drive. In my
good clothes had it started in about 15 seconds without getting
anything dirty but my hand a little bit.

This was a 65 Catalina. The 67 Catalina didn't have this problem even
when the lights were left on. Maybe I should have replaced the
battery cable. maybe there was something strange about it. Or even
the solenoid, but that's more work and money. Once I only had to
wiggle it

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :)
 
M

mm

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello..

I hope this post is related to this group because I think this is
about electronic a little bit.

Hmm, my car battery is almost dead. But, when I jumpstart it, it
starts well and the battery is also okay for another 2-3 start after
running it a while. Then, the next morning the car battery is flat
out. So, is there any method for me to revive the dead battery?
Because I think it is not fully dead yet, if I throw it, it would not
be good to the environment.

In addition to waht they said, a short term remedy is to disconect one
pole of the battery every night.

Besides a lightbulb that is on all the tiem, you could have sonar in
your burglar alarm, and once I accidentally installed two burglar
alarms. The second made a difference, and ran the battery down efveyr
night. It was an old battery, but even if it were new, it's not good
for the battery to run it down everynight.

My first car, a 50 Olds, had a dead battery, adn all I had was a cord
that plugged into the wall, a lightbulb socket with lightbulb, and an
icepick. Even that would have been plenty, but just as I was about to
find the problem, I would get something out of the glove compartement
and shut the door well. On the way up, when I was almost "to the
top", I would get something else out of the glove box and shut the
door badly. Took extra hours but I found it, and bent the door a
little and all was well.



If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :)
 
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