You Can Bring Car Batteries Back from the Dead

Sometimes you have to wonder about things! The other day, while reading a piece on battery failures, we were reliably informed that the chief cause of battery failure was leaving the lights on. That's right, leaving the lights on!

Now, think about this: there are thousands of folks out there right now whose cars wont start and who didn't leave the lights on. That's right: they did not leave the lights on!! So, there must be other causes, right?

Well, it is right, especially if you give it any kind of thought. So, why do their batteries fail? it's interesting to think about the thousands of motorists, daily, whose batteries fail because:

> Age has caught up with the battery
> Alternator trouble has caught up with the battery
> Light switch problems have caught up with the battery
> Belt problems have caught up with the battery
> Maybe sitting too long in one spot has caught up with the battery.

Indeed, some authors seem so intent on showing that they are experts sometimes tend to forget that technology has a way of catching up with charging a battery. Take a look at the one of the deep-cycle/rechargeable battery boxes that you will find at an outlet like BatteriesPlus that should be able to put enough charge into your car to get it to crank over (although you may have to give the battery a bit to recharge for the restart).

Maybe other authors actually didn't have this bit of knowledge or maybe the knowledge gremlins pushed the information from the keyboard, but the item never even hinted that today you don't need a second vehicle to start a dead battery; that method still works but it's a pain lining the cars up; the batteries up, and making sure the cables are long enough.

Instead, a little technology, a deep-charge/discharge cycle battery like the one included with a battery box and you have a device that let's you jump a car without the need for a second vehicle.

There are many reasons for a Do Not Start and this article doesn't pretend to be comprehensive about DNS.

It's actually simple matter to find these lists from Sears or Exide or even AAA and they'll be happy to give you the list.

DNS lists show there are more causes than just leaving the headlights on. And, these lists don't touch many of the mechanical issues involved. A car's battery can fail because, the owner hasn't:

> Had the alternator checked in a long time and it is on the edge of failure.

> Had the alternator checked under load to make sure that it isn't putting out too much electricity. This is what causes the buildup of stuff around a battery's posts. What happens is that the alternator is literally cooking off the battery's electrolyte materials and leaving a build up on the posts.

> Had the belts, which scream every time you hit the gas, checked lately to make sure they are in good shape and to ensure they have the correct tension. Slipping belts means your alternator cannot put out its full potential because it's wasting energy with uselessly turning the belt before it starts to charge.

As you can see, the list can go on and on. It's like the fisherman who keeps on telling the story about the "30-incher that just got away!!!"(It's funny how the fish seems to get longer with each retelling, too!)

Never Wire Brush A Battery Terminal

One funny issue that has been prominent in other battery care stories is the need to wire brush a terminal. The terminals are where you will find a grayish-white or bluish pasty or dusty buildup.

Although some have identified this as proof your battery is gone, this buildup may not be caused by a bad battery - though let's not kid each other, the battery may really be gone or on its way out - the buildup you see may just indicate the battery is trying to take a charge while the alternator is putting out too much electricity. The overcharge has to go somewhere and it does -- right to the terminals in the form of the buildup you see.

Never use a wire brush to clean it up because you're creating a toxic nightmare. How toxic can it be? Take a look at the tool you use to loosen the battery wire, in the first place. If it gets wet right after the operation, you'll see pitting pretty quickly. Or, get some "dust" on a favorite shirt and you'll be turning it into a window rag as the holes will appear from the acid quite quickly.

If you use a wire brush you might end up breathing this stuff or having it fall on the ground. Now, imagine breathing that dust or, worse, having it fall onto your driveway so it can mix with th groundwater.

That buildup on the terminal is caked sulfuric acid, not exactly the most gentle of chemicals on the periodic table.

Baking Soda Takes Care Of The Problem

Of course, you will still have to break the crust to get to the terminal, in the first place, so rinse the tool you use right away with clean water or let it soak overnight in light oil, after soaking it in your baking soda/water mixture to make sure any acid is neutralized, whether it's an open-end wrench or socket.

And, with the exception of a flat-bladed screwdriver, stop using tools. You will need the screwdriver to pry up the terminal connector that you first loosened with the wrench. The screwdriver is the last metal tool you will use.

If you remember your chemistry lessons, an acid is canceled by a base chemical and baking soda is the most prominent base chemical that is in most homes.

So, the next step is to get a box of baking soda from the kitchen and dump about two or three tablespoons of baking soda into water that's in a disposable glass or cup. Then, taking an old toothbrush, gently clean up the buildup. You'll be surprised how quickly the battery post cleans up.

Quickly rinse and dry the post. And, then use the same procedure on the battery clamp itself.

Be sure to put a pail under your car to catch any dripping because this slurry is also environmentally harmful. When everything is ready to go back together be sure to use a good conductive sealant/paste on the battery post and clamp so everything stays electrically clean (dirt will still build up but on the outside).

This is much more environmentally friendly than a wire brush and safer, too. When you finish be sure to dispose of the waste water correctly. Don't just pour it down a convenient drain. Take the time to put more baking soda into the mix to ensure that any acid is neutralized and then take it to a local service shop where they will likely take it off your hands, although it won't be cost-free.