Dead Vehicle Battery – Recharge To Make Car Run

Recharging a car battery is not quite the same as leaving your cell phone on charge overnight while you sleep. We are dealing with bigger levels of power here, and as a result you need to pay a bit more attention. Your best bet is to have ready a 5 amp car battery charger – any more powerful than this is best left to a qualified mechanic. Using this, it will take about eight hours to charge your battery back up – so if you have somewhere you need to be and no alternative means of conveyance, you will need to fork out for someone to tow the car to a place where it can be charged quickly and fully.

Making sure that everything in the engine is clean will help you a great deal when you are trying to make a car run. Under the bonnet of a car there is a lot going on – a cleaner engine will allow it to operate more like it should. The same goes for the battery. Check the terminals. Sometimes these have a build-up of white powder which adversely affects the transfer of power from the battery to the starter. The best way to clean this is to use a wet rag and baking soda. Depending on the reasons for your lack of battery power, the best way of fixing it will vary quite considerably. If current is leaking from the battery it could be for a number of reasons.

Something as simple as leaving a door unclosed when you come in from the car can cause the battery to be running without gaining the extra charge from the car itself. Remedying this problem is quite simple. If it keeps draining even when you are observing good housekeeping procedures, then the chances are that the battery itself is worn out. Recharging in this case can only be a temporary measure and eventually you will need to buy a new one. Keeping a constant eye on how a battery is performing will alert you to where the problem is and whether it needs replacing. In cases where you cannot identify the problem yourself, the best bet is to take it to a mechanic.

Free Tips on How Jumpstarting Your Car

There are many reasons why people end up with a dead battery in their car. It may be leaving the lights on while they are parked, or it can be any other reason. Getting caught with a dead battery in the mall's parking lot with groceries in hand can be a very frustrating situation to be in. In times like this many people will rely on the kindness of strangers.Before attempting to jumpstart your car, you will need a few things first. You will need a car with the same voltage battery as your car and it should be fully charged, a wire brush, safety glasses, rubber gloves, and a set of jumper cables.If you have all of these things, then you are ready to jumpstart your car.



Well, not quite yet. You first need to stand at the side of the road and flag down a car that you think has the same battery voltage as yours. If you are lucky enough, someone will be willing to assist you and they may have jumper cables with them. You have to remember that there are two types of people who will assist you. One is motorists who have jumper cables with them, and the other has none.This is why it is recommended that you should get your own set of jumper cables. Jumper cables can be quite costly but it will be worth it when you experience getting stuck with a dead battery.Now that you have all the tools you need and the willing motorist, you now have to check your battery first. The battery contains sulfuric acid. If that solution is frozen, never attempt to jumpstart your car. This can result in an exploding battery which can injure you and anyone in the vicinity.You should also check your battery for cracks. If it is, it's shot and should not be jumpstarted.
If you are in this situation, it is better to get a ride and buy a new battery for your car.If your battery has white, green or blue flakes on the terminals, clean them off first with a wire brush. You should wear gloves when you do so as these flakes can be quite nasty if it comes in contact with the skin. The flakes can also be an indication that you need a new battery.If your battery and the willing motorist's battery is of the same voltage, you are now ready to get your car jumpstarted.The first step is to attach one end of the jumper cable to the dead battery's positive terminal. Attach the other end to the starting vehicle battery's positive terminal.
Then, taking the other cable, attach one end to the starting car's negative terminal and attach the other end to the dead car's engine block.For safety, stand back from the hoods of the cars.Then, start the car providing the jumpstart. After about five minutes, start the car with the dead battery. If it doesn't work, stop trying and wait a few more minutes. The car with the dead battery should start by now and if it doesn't, it may be time to call a tow truck.When both cars are started, remove the cable connections. Do it in reverse as when you installed it. This means that you should start by disconnecting the cable from the engine block of the jumpstarted car, then the negative terminal on the car providing the jumpstart, then the end of the cable from the positive terminal of the car providing the jumpstart and lastly the cable from the positive terminal on the car with the dead battery.Jumpstarting the car is just a temporary solution. You should get the battery charged right after you get it started by jumpstarting it.That's it. You are good to go. Don't forget to thank the motorist who helped you out.

Tips on Cleaning Your Car's Battery Posts For Reliable Starting

One of the most important components that makes a car run is the battery. If the battery connection is dirty, your car will come to a complete stop and will be very difficult to start. To know if your car's battery connection is dirty, you will see a flaky white residue on the terminals of your car's battery. You need to get this white residue off as it will interfere with the electricity needed to flow between the car and the battery.



The first step in cleaning the battery is by removing the terminals. Cleaning the batteries with the cables connected will result in not getting it cleaned thoroughly. It's like trying to wash your feet with your shoes on.Depending on how the cables are connected to the battery, you will need one or two wrenches. If the terminals have two nuts, then you will need two wrenches. However, if it has one nut with a big square, you will only need one wrench.When removing the terminals, you should always remember that you should remove the negative cable first. If the terminal requires two wrenches, turn the other one clockwise and the other one counterclockwise.After removing the cables and the connectors, the next step is to clean them up.There are a number of ways to get rid of the corrosion.
Some people will tell you that soda will do the trick. But, unless you have no other choice to clean it up, go for the more modern method where special cleaning fluids can effectively get rid of corrosion.Squirt the solution on the battery posts and terminals, especially the insides. If you have a little brush, use it to clear away the white-colored build up. The terminals and the posts will start foaming and let it do so for a few minutes. Then, rinse it off with a little water.After cleaning both terminals, the next step is to install anti-corrosion discs if you use them. Then, reinstall the terminals. Always remember that you should install the terminals with the positive first and then the negative.As you can see, it is quite easy to clean the battery terminals and posts. All you need is just a few minutes of your time, a battery cleaning solution and you're done. With clean battery terminals and posts, you can be sure of a reliable start.

Free Tips on How to Recondition a Battery

If you're like most of us, you know how much of an expense and inconvenience a dead battery can be. By the time you pay for a tow truck to come and boost or replace your battery, plus any lost earnings that you may have incurred, you can see that the costs quickly add up. And while being able to recondition a dead battery may not solve your immediate problems, it can definitely eliminate the expense of buying a new battery. Plus, if you're so inclined, you can turn it into a very profitable business. And the best part is that it's very easy and inexpensive.
Automotive lead-acid batteries generate electricity by using lead plates surrounded by sulfuric acid. Along with electricity, this double sulfate reaction also produces lead sulfate.
Normally in a healthy battery, the lead sulfate is converted back to lead and sulfuric acid when it is recharged. But in an older battery, or one that's been discharged for a long period of time, the lead sulfate changes to a crystalline form. It then coats the lead plates of the battery and reduces the capacity of the battery. This process is known as sulfation, and is a normal occurrence in lead-acid batteries. It's also one of the most common reasons that these batteries fail.
When sulfation happens, it causes a host of problems within the battery. It's responsible for lowered capacity, longer recharge times, higher working temperatures, and increased corrosion.
The good news is that sulfation can often times be reversed. A specialized battery charger that pulses a high current through the battery is often used. This allows the crystalline lead sulfate to be broken down and turned back into lead and sulfuric acid, thus cleaning the lead plates and regaining charge capacity.
So before you throw that battery away, you should look into battery reconditioning as a way to save it. And if you're interested, you can also earn a substantial amount of money by reconditioning free dead batteries, and then reselling them. A very small investment for a very large return!

John R Thompson

Tips for maintaining your car battery

You seldom think about your car battery until you are in a deserted parking garage late at night and your car won’t start. Then it becomes very important in your life. Car batteries require simple and routine maintenance in order to work properly over their lives. If you can open your hood and use a wire brush, you can maintain a car battery. First thing is to pop open your hood and locate your battery. Don’t worry, it won’t bite.

The 2 posts that the battery cables are connected to must be clean and free of corrosion. Corrosion can prevent the cables from getting a charge from the battery and prevent your car from starting. Simply keeping your terminals clean can keep those troubles away. Get a wire brush and scrub the contacts clean. If you are really motivated, you can remove the cables and scrub the inside of connector and the terminal post.

You should have a good contact after you complete this little chore. You also need to check your water level, especially when it is hot outside. If the water level drops too low, the battery will have a difficult time holding a charge. Next time you fill up, ask the guy at the service station to check it for you. Don’t wait until your car is slow to crank up. If your battery is not putting out enough juice, it may be too late to save it. The time to save your car battery is before these symptoms show up and always have a pair of jumper cables or a battery booster in your truck. You never know if that old battery has cranked for the last time.

Jump Start a Dead Car Battery

Here are few tips and instructions on jump starting a dead battery. First things first, though. You need to inspect the dead battery. If you see any damage such as leaks or cracks. DO NOT go any further. Put away the jumper cables and call a wrecker. A damaged battery can explode and really hurt you. If the battery looks ok, then park the cars close enough to each other for the jumper cables to reach and shut off both engines. Now make sure the terminals are not caked with corrosion. Try to clean them off as best you can. A corroded terminal will make it a lot harder to jump the battery. At this point you are ready to hook up your jumper cables to the batteries. (Normally, the red cable is (+) positive and black cable is (-) negative) They must be connected in this exact order: 1. Connect one end of the (+) positive cable to the (+) positive terminal on the dead battery. 2. Connect the other end of the (+) positive cable to (+) positive terminal on the good battery. 3. Connect one end of the (-) negative cable to (-) negative terminal on the good battery. 4. Connect the other end of the (-) negative cable to the engine block of the dead car.

You are ready to start up the good car’s engine and charge the dead battery. First of all, shut off all electrical equipment on the good car. (head lights, radio, etc.) Let the good car’s engine run for a minute or so before you attempt to start the dead one. Now get in the dead car and attempt to crank it. If it sounds like it wants to start but won’t quite get there, give it some more time and try again. When the dead has started and is running, it is time to remove the jumper cables. This must be done in reverse order.
Here are the steps: 1. Disconnect (-) negative cable from the engine block on dead car. 2. Disconnect (-) negative cable from the (-) negative terminal on the good battery. 3. Disconnect (+) positive cable from the (+) positive terminal on the good battery. 4. Disconnect (+) positive cable from the (+) positive terminal on the dead battery.
After the dead car has been running for a while, turn it off. See if will start on its own. If it does, you should be ok on the drive home. If not, jump it again and have someone follow you home. When you arrive at home, you can then put a battery charger on it all night and see if it cranks in the morning.

Battery Jump Starter

Have you ever left your headlights or some other electrical device on overnight and came out bright and early to start you car? The battery is completely dead. All you hear is the pathetic dying sound of that annoying buzzer in the dashboard.. To add insult to injury your wife or husband has just pulled out of the driveway and they are gone. What do you do? Like most people you have a pair of jumper cables but that requires another car. It is too early to wake you neighbor or picture a dead car on the proverbial deserted highway with no one to help you. This is where a battery jump starter can become your best friend.





A jump starter or battery booster is the equivalent to having another car with a good battery packaged in a small, portable box. They are basically a rechargeable battery with a pair of jumper cables attached. All you need to do is hook up the cables and start your car. These little jewels can be a lifesaver. They are compact and easy to carry. You can keep it in the garage or put it in the trunk. I have my wife to carry one, so she doesn’t have to go wandering around some dark alley or parking garage with a pair of jumper cables. In a situation like this, a jump starter is the ticket to getting your car up and running. There are several models and makes out there. Be wary of the cheap ones that they sell at your local big box store for 50 bucks. For example, they sometimes label them as having 450 amps but in reality they have only 250 amps of “cranking” power. You are much better off buying a professional grade unit like the Jump N Carry. A unit like this has 1,700 amps of cranking power and is built for repeated use. You get what you pay for in the world of the battery an jump starter.

DIY - Clean Your Car's Battery

Your car's battery provides the initial spark to get your car up and running. Timely cleaning of the battery not only ensures its longer life but also saves you from out of the blue battery troubles.

This post will quickly explain how to go about a battery clean up operation.
Here's all that you'll need:
* Rubber gloves and safety glasses
* A wrench to remove the battery
* Baking soda as the cleaning agent
* A brush with stiff bristles
* And water resistant grease
The clean up
1. Wear the safety gear, in this case the gloves and glasses. This is important because batteries have acid in them. The gloves and glasses will protect your hands and eyes just in case it spills over.
2. Remove the battery from the mount by loosening the cable clamps. At times the battery is less dirty so doesn't need to be taken out, at other times however, that's necessary. When you remove it, you can conduct the cleaning operation thoroughly.
3. Now brush the battery and clamps and remove all the dirt from the battery and the accumulated gunk at and around the clamps, terminals, battery posts, and brackets. Though this won't make them as new as straight out of the automotive manufacturer's factory, will surely pave the way for further cleaning.
4. Once you're through with removing the dirt and residue, you need to make use of baking soda solution to clean up further. Make the solution by adding a half cup of baking soda to a cup and a half of water. Stir well till it dissolves. Pour it all over the battery, wait for 5-7 minuets before rinsing it with clean water.
5. Now wipe off the battery with a cloth/rag and let it dry. The cleanup operation is now almost complete.
6. Next, you need to mount the battery back in its place, make the connections and also apply waterproof grease to cover them.
That's about all. Lastly, don't forget to congratulate yourself for restoring the car's battery back to health.