This is How You Can Fix A Dead Cell in A Car Battery

Automobile batteries are essential for a vehicle to run, and like that battery, calls are essential to holding charge in the battery.

You don’t need a super costly mechanic to know how to fix a dead cell in a car battery. Using some of the elements and proper techniques will help you to refurbish your dead car battery.

As car owners, we are facing battery issues in our cars frequently, and that’s why learning something that always helps in an emergency.

Having a dead car battery, it’s a nightmare because your car battery won’t hold a charge, and your car won’t be able to go anywhere. And in most cases, your car goes dead because of faulty cells in the battery that we will learn to fix in today’s guide.

You should try at least once to fix dead cells in your car battery before you throw them away. Reconditioning a car battery is possible in most cases.

You should not worry too much about your dead cells in your car battery because you are going to learn the appropriate way to fix a dead cell in a car battery.

What Are Car Battery Cells?

The cell is a single anode and cathode separated by electrolytes used to produce a voltage and current. There are many types of cells in a battery.

An automobile battery is a wet cell battery. In a car, the battery has six cells connected in series. Each cell is filled with a sulfuric acid solution, which is the electrolyte.

So, Sufficient levels of acid are required for the battery, and that’s why you should always be aware of acid leaks from your battery.

The battery cells are connected to each other. Also, the car battery cells are connected by short heavy straps from one cell’s positive plates to the adjacent cell’s negative plates.

How To Fix A Dead Cell In A Car Battery

Epsom salt and distilled water are the necessary components to fix a dead cell in a car battery. And you also keep in mind that you are working around the battery, so you have to wear protective eye goggles.

Issues with a car battery cell can happen for several reasons. You could even buy a dead cell battery if you aren’t aware of battery cells and battery quality. Before Buying any battery, you should get the proper knowledge of automobile batteries.

Fortunately, car battery cells can be fixable or reconditioned. You can fix the dead car battery at home with some tools and some requirements. If you recondition your car battery or fix the dead cells in a car battery, it can add a few more years to the life timeline.

Steps to take for reconditioning your car battery:

1. Mix Epsom Salt With Boiled Distilled Water
2. Clean The Car Battery
3. Fill The Battery With The Solution
4. Reinstate The Battery Cover
5. Charge The Battery

Basic Requirement To Fix A Dead Cell In A Car Battery

Here is the list of  what you will need to make a dead battery work again.

• Protective Eye Goggles
• A pair of Neoprene Rubber Gloves
• Screwdriver
• Epsom Salt
• Battery Charger
• Distilled Water
• A Plastic Funnel
• A Drill
• Turkey Baster

Step 1: Mix Epsom Salt With Boiled Distilled Water

In order to fix the dead cells in your car battery, you have to start taking procedures in the well-ventilated area.

First, you have to heat half a gallon of distilled water to the boiling point. And then, you need to add ½ lb of Epsom Salt (Magnesium sulfate) to the boiled distilled water and stir it properly until the Epsom salt is completely dissolved.

On the other hand, if you want to get things done quickly, you can also buy the battery acid from your area’s auto shop. You can ask me how much Epsom salt to fix a dead cell in a car battery? The answer is Dissolve 7 to 8 ounces of Epsom salt in the distilled water is enough.

Related: How To Protect Car Battery From Dying

Step 2: Clean The Car Battery

As we know, corrosion and dirty car batteries can cause many different types of As we know, corrosion and dirty car batteries can cause many different types of issues. Before reconditioning a dead cell in a car battery, you have to clean outside of the battery.

Use baking soda and clean water to clean the car battery terminal and outside. Baking soda and water prevent contamination from your car battery. You don’t need to worry about safety using baking soda. Baking soda is completely harmless, and this will neutralize the battery acid.

Step 3: Fill The Battery With The Solution

After you clean the car battery now, you have to remove the covers from the car battery cells using the screwdriver.

You also need to remove the top cover of the sealed battery using a screwdriver. If you aren’t familiar with this, you can google it or watch it on YouTube.

After you remove the car battery covers, you again need to remove the plastic caps and drill the holes at impressions. Bring a damp towel and then completely remove debris surrounding the battery holes.

Remember, the metal funnel reacts with acid so, you should not use a metal funnel; instead, you can use a plastic funnel, and a plastic funnel is totally safe.

Fill the battery with the solution by using a plastic funnel. And the battery should be dipped in the solution.

See Also: What To Do When Car Battery Dies

Step 4: Reinstate The Battery Cover

After dipping the battery in the solution, now you can reinstate the battery cover. And you need to replace the plastic plugs and the cover. Make sure nothing falls outside from your car battery, reinstall them like it was.

Step 5: Charge The Battery

This is the last step to take for refurbishing car batteries. Now, you just need to connect the battery terminals to the battery charger.

Charge the battery slowly, at least for 24 hours. While fixing a dead cell in a car battery you should charge your car battery with a compatible battery charge, not charge your car battery without a charger.

I recommend You should repeat this process two to three times constantly to rejuvenate car battery life.

Now, Your battery is ready to use in your car. And, This is how you can fix a dead cell in a car battery.

The battery reconditioning process is straightforward. And In this post, I shared how to recondition a car battery at home.

So you can fix dead cells in car batteries at home quickly. You should always be aware when you are buying a car battery from a store.

After knowing how to fix dead cells in a car battery, now you need to know some safety measures in order to know how to recondition a car battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuM6vOC9UcY&ab_channel=NaveedZahirCreativity

What Are The Symptoms Of Dead Cell In Car Battery

If your car battery has dead cells, the car engine will crank slowly and you will notice the dashboard light going to dim.

A 12-Volt car battery has six cells, and these cells produce voltage and amperage to start your car engine.

If the car battery’s cells are dead, your car battery will not provide sufficient amperage or voltage to your car. Car battery cell failure is the most common type of battery failure.

Here are some symptoms of dead cells in car battery :

1. Car Engine Cranking Slowly
2. Car Dashboard Light
3. Dim Headlight
4. Clicking Sound
5. Need To Push Accelerator
6. Car Stop

1. Car Engine Cranking Slowly

Cars need a sufficient amount of speed to start the engine. The car creaking engine is turning the engine crankshaft that rotates the engine to power in the car.

If your car engine is slowly cranking, this might be a symptom of a dead cell in the car battery.

2. Car Dashboard Light

Car dashboard job summarizes these car’s working events with easy-to-understand and real-time data visuals. If your car dashboard lights dim, this also indicates that your car’s battery cells are going to die or your car battery needs to charge.

3. Dim Headlight

Noticing the car’s headlight is the most common and easy way to indicate that you have a dead cell in the car battery. If your car’s headlights are dim, you should check the car battery.

4. Clicking Sound

Whenever you turn on the ignition, if you hear a clicking sound, this can be a sign of an issue with your car battery cells. Hearing clicking sound when turning the ignition on is also a symptom of dead cells in a car battery.

5. Need To Push Accelerator

The Accelerator is also known as a gas pedal. If your car would not start unless you push the Accelerator to start the engine, there is also a chance the car battery has dead cells.

6. Car Stop

If the car suddenly stops running after you have started, this sign indicates that either your car needs to charge the battery or your car battery is dead.

In this case, you should check the battery and get help from a professional but don’t be late.

Safety Measures To Fix A Dead Cell In Battery

You have to take safety measures to fix a dead cell in a car battery. Protective gears, area should be checked and a compatible battery charger these are the safety measures you will need before fixing a dead cell in a car battery.

And taking proper safety measures is necessary when you’re working around the car battery because the automobile battery contains acid that can burn your screen and eye.

Here are the safety measures when you fix dead cells in a car battery:

1. Wear Protective Gear
2. Compatible Battery Charger
3. Check the Battery Voltage
4. Battery Storage Area Should Be Checked

1. Wear Protective Gear

Always wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), especially when you work around the car battery.

Such as gloves, safety glasses, goggles, or face shield. A little bit of acid can burn your hands, and acid can spill on your eye.

You must Avoid touching your eyes while working on a battery. If accidentally anything pours in your body, you should immediately clear it using clean water.

2. Compatible Battery Charger

Car battery chargers restore energy to a car battery through electronic current. You can’t use a charger that is not required or suitable for your car battery.

You need to select the right charger for your car battery and charger that works well with 12 V batteries. Compatible car battery charger required for rejuvenating car battery.

3. Check The Voltage

The standard automotive battery in modern vehicles is a 12-volt battery. Each battery has six cells, and each cell with 2.1 volts at full charge. A good car battery should read 12.4-12.9 volts when the car is off.

In order to recondition a car battery, you need to make sure that your car battery voltage is below 12.4V. And 12.4V indicates that two or more cells are already dead in your car battery.

10V to 12V is suitable to go for reconditioning, but if your car battery’s voltage is below 10V, this is not ready to recondition.

If you notice that your car battery voltage is below 10V, this indicates that your car battery already has any kind of technical issue.

4. Your Battery Storage Area Should Be Checked

Whether you are trying to bring back a dead car battery or just doing little work around your car battery, you should store the battery safely where it is not exposed to direct sunlight.

When you are restoring the battery, make sure the battery is not exposed to direct sunlight.

After you finish the reconditioning battery, you should not store the battery in a hot location or even an area where sunshine rays receive directly.

What Causes A Dead Cell In A Car Battery

There is no denying that having a dead cell in a battery is useless to running a car. Everybody should know how to do car battery cells die.

If you want to run your car, you need to fix a dead cell in the car battery or make a dead battery work again as soon as possible.

Here is some reason why do car battery cells die :

• Age of a battery
  The age of a car battery is a significant factor for battery health. The car battery cell is composed of electrodes. The battery cell will run out of call’s chemicals over time, and the car battery cell will become unable to sustain the capacity. An old cell in a battery can cause a dead cell in a car battery.
  
• Sulfation in battery
  Sulfation in car batteries means when a lead-acid battery is deprived of a full charge, while sulfation occurs in the battery. Car batteries use sulfuric acid as their electrolyte. The long leisure time allows the car batteries to get a full charge overnight. The longer the battery sits without being recharge, the more sulfate it will develop in the battery.
  
• Corrosion in car battery
  Corrosion is always bad for every type of battery. Corrosion can kill car battery cells. There are many reasons why car batteries terminal being corroded. Corroded car batteries can not last a long time. To keep the car battery terminal clean or corrosion-free, you have to look up your car battery regularly. Corrosion can damage car battery cells.

Final Thoughts

Before you fix a dead cell in a car battery or recondition a car battery, you need to be certain that your car battery needs to be reconditioning. If you are not sure about this, you may get professional help to know that. 

You should also check the voltage of your car battery. If your car battery drops around 10V below, then you need to recondition the car battery. And check the manual, see the battery types and battery specifications.

And if your car battery requires reconditioning, make sure you take all safety procedures before you start working around the battery. Always remember that anything you do is not equal to your life.

Now It’s Your Turn

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What is the main cause of your car battery cell death so quickly?

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