How to Fix Dead Car Battery? When going on a long drive, make sure your battery is in good condition – or, better yet, bring a second battery or a battery bank with you. However, if you are already driving miles away – or even if you have not yet driven out of a garage – and your car battery goes ‘dead,’ you can try various repairs to assist you to resuscitate it.
How Does a Battery Die?
A car battery, like anything else, has a lifespan beyond which it is no longer advised for use. Batteries have a four-year life cycle. They are supposed to perform optimally throughout this time frame. However, a battery can become weak or die for a variety of causes during its cycle, including:
- When the car is left unused for a long time
- Extreme temperatures, especially really cold weather
- Headlights or interior car lights left on for an extended period
- Charging system failure
- Corrosion
- Battery aging
- The battery is draining the electricity
Common Signs of a Dead Battery in a Car
- Car Won’t Start
- The Battery Light is On
- Check Engine Light Flashing
- Electrical Problems
- Sulfur Smell
How to Fix Dead Car Battery?
The longevity of a car battery is determined by how it is utilised. They may typically survive more than three years – sometimes up to seven years – if properly charged, used every day, and never completely depleted and refilled numerous times. If a battery’s lifespan is fewer than three years, possible explanations include lack of use, insufficient electrolyte levels, excessive discharging and recharging, corrosion, charging issues, or the cells being simply broken.
When going on a long drive, make sure your battery is in good condition – or, better yet, bring a second battery or a battery bank with you. However, if you are already driving miles away – or even if you have not yet driven out of a garage – and your car battery goes ‘dead,’ you can try various repairs to assist you to resuscitate it. Here is the list of 7 Methods to Fix Dead Car Battery.
1. Epsom Salt to Fix Dead Car Battery
If the problem is caused by a low electrolyte level, making an electrolyte solution with Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) will help revive your automobile battery. Check out this post to learn how to test the electrolyte level in your battery. Epsom salt is a stronger acid with a range of hydrates that may shift the chemical balance and provide enough charge to start the engine.
To produce a distilled water and Epsom salt solution, combine 1 part Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with 3 parts warm, distilled water. Fill each cell with ¼ to ½ electrolyte solutions. This article describes how to do it in greater depth.
2. Hard Hand Cranking
The ‘hand cranking approach’ necessitates jacking up the rear wheel drive and using axle stands to reinforce its support. The front wheels must be properly chocked by placing the chock in the middle and square to the tyre, then shifting into fifth gear while the ignition is turned on. Wrap a rope around the driving tyre and spin the wheel in the typical direction. Then, with a strong tug, turn the engine over and start the engine.
3. Chainsaw to Fix Dead Car Battery
The ‘chainsaw method’ allows you to charge the battery by driving the alternator (placed on the engine) with a chainsaw. To do this, first remove the chainsaw’s chain, blade, and spoked drive sprocket to make it look like a pulley. Then, remove the alternator’s drive belts. Connect the chainsaw drive spindle and the alternator drive pulley with the belt.
Engage your drive belt and start the chainsaw while gently pressing down on the belt. Continue to run it until it begins to charge the battery. While this method works, it is potentially dangerous because unsecured belts can spin at high speeds. If you’re unsure, take extra precautions or don’t attempt the treatment at all.
4. Use Aspirin to Fix Dead Car Battery
If you have distilled water and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), you can produce a solution to chemically modify the electrolyte mix. To produce an aspirin and distilled water solution, break 12 350 mg or 500 mg aspirin pills and dissolve the powdered aspirin in 6 oz of warm, pure water. Then, add equal quantities to each cell. You may need to add more water to cover the plates.
5. 18-Volt Drill Battery
The 18-volt drill battery approach functions similarly to a jump start. A fully charged 18-volt drill battery and jump leads are required for this. These are available at motor stores. You must build a temporary connection between your dead car battery and the 18-volt drill battery using jump leads or other modifications. This permits the drill battery to connect to the dead battery in the same way that a traditional jump-start method would.
6. Distilled Water
Adding distilled water may help submerge the plates and allow for additional reaction, allowing the engine to turn a few more times. If the condition is caused by low electrolyte levels, this will assist. If you don’t have Epsom salt or aspirin, you can use distilled water as an electrolyte booster instead.
7. Hot Ash
The hot ash approach should only be used as a “last resort” if all else fails. First, start a fire and let it burn down to hot ashes. Then, remove the top filler/vent covers from the battery, remove the battery from the car, and lay it on the hot ash. Take precautions to ensure that it does not catch fire. The hot ashes should heat up the battery. Replace the battery with caution and try to restart your engine.
Conclusion
You won’t be able to start your automobile if your battery dies. Dead car batteries can usually be revived — at least briefly – to get you back on the road. However, the buildup of damage may result in the premature demise of your car battery, which must normally be replaced. However, as the saying goes, prevention is always preferable to cure. It is still preferable to avoid automobile battery damage than to revive or replace a dead one.
Also Read: How to Fix Car Cigarette Lighter?
