top of page
Search

DIY Battery Maintenance

Updated: Jun 14, 2018

An excellent way to keep your car running smoothly and without difficulty is having better battery links. Keep your car battery working and maintained well for you to avoid mechanical car charges and for you not to worry about being stranded somewhere. Our DIY battery car maintenance tips will help you perform an easy step by step battery maintenance.

These are the tools that you may need for you to perform the DIY battery maintenance of your car:

Corrosion removal fluid

Post cleaner

Wire brush or paint brush

Wrenches

Safety glasses

Rubber gloves

Cable puller

Hydrometer

Petroleum jelly

Rags


STEP #1: CLEANING THE CABLES OF THE BATTERY


You have to clean the corrosion or white debris from your battery. You can use a tablespoon of baking soda, a cup of water and don't forget the non-metallic brush. You have to wash it with cool water. After that, you need to detach the cables. You have to start with the negative cable for you to prevent the wrenches to curve on a nearby ground. You have to slacken the battery cable clamp bolts and slightly twist them. You can use the cable puller if the cable is stranded. Do not twist battery posts. When the cables are already taken out, remove the excess corrosion all over the battery terminals and cables with the corrosion remover or the post cleaner.


STEP #2: INSPECT THE RANKED OF THE ELECTROLYTE


Add water to the fill holes when needed. When your battery needs water, you have to add clean and distilled water and do not put too much for it can cause over spilling on the cell. Carefully twist off the cap of battery cells. Check if the battery case has a crack. When you found a crack, change your battery. Once you added the water, let it combine with the electrolyte for a few hours before you proceed to the next step.


STEP #3: INSPECT THE STATUS AND CHARGE OF BATTERY


Examine the electrolyte of every cell by hydrometer. To examine the electrolyte in every cell, you need to press the ball of the hydrometer and put the solution into the controller. Gently grasp the controller level and take note of the readings. Pour the solutions back to the same cell. If the reading of the cells is different from each other, you need to replace the battery. The fully charged battery have the reading of 1.265 or higher.


STEP #4: PUTTING UP NEW BATTERY AND REMOVING CABLES


Before you take away the battery, you first need to detach the negative cable then detach the positive cable. Detach your battery by holding down the clamp. You should always change the battery with the higher rating to the original. Always wear protective sunglasses and rubber gloves when you work on the battery and do not smoke.


STEP #5: CHANGE THE BATTERY


When changing the battery, you need to connect a heavy duty leash to the side of the battery and carefully move it out. Avoid contact with the acid of the battery because it's dangerous. Never drop the battery. Once you put the battery out, clean the battery tray and change it if it's not in good condition.


STEP #6: REINSTALLING CABLES AND CLAMP OF THE BATTERY


You have to put the new battery into the place cautiously. Combine the hold down clamp. First, link the cable to the positive terminal and connect the negative lastly. Put a small amount of petroleum jelly to the terminal before you fasten the cable clamp to the posts. The petroleum helps slow down the buildup of corrosion.


26 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page