Car battery repair is one of those things that nobody usually thinks about until they are stuck with a dead battery. (If you even knew one could be repaired!) It is very important to understand the ways by which you can maintain and repair your battery from a working car battery is the very thing that allows your engine to start.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths surrounding car battery repair that can easily mislead even the most experienced drivers from the truth. These myths lead to unnecessary expenses and poor decisions about the maintenance or replacement of your battery.
Knowing the facts behind these common myths is crucial to making informed decisions concerning car battery problems. Whether you have minor repairs or are trying to make a decision on whether to replace your battery, knowing the correct information makes all the difference.
Understanding the Basic Car Battery
We take a closer look in this section at how a car battery works and why it is so important for your vehicle.
How Car Batteries Work
Car batteries are the heart of a car’s electrical system, supplying the necessary power to start an engine and keep all electrical components running, from the lights to the radio. The moment the key is turned or the start button pressed, the surge of electricity is channeled directly to a starter motor for cranking the engine.
Components of a Car Battery
Knowing what is inside the car battery could help you to realize its function more. The main elements that constitute the battery are as follows:
- Solution of Electrolyte: Most car batteries contain a mixture of sulfuric acid and water, conducting electricity between the plates.
- Lead Plates: Immersed in the electrolyte solution, these plates store and release electrical energy.
- Terminals: These are the metallic contact points that connect your car’s electrical system to the battery.
Take, for example, the tougher exterior plastic shell of the battery casings that protects the internal mechanisms. All these components do their job to ensure that the car battery works seamlessly so that your car keeps serving you without any glitch. Knowing these basics will further help in understanding why maintenance and car battery repair is so important.
Derailing Common Misconceptions About Car Battery Repair
Because of all the car battery repair misconceptions, it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction. Let’s examine several of them and get to the bottom of a few.
Myth 1: Car batteries cannot be repaired.
The common myth is that when a car battery becomes problematic, it is to be thrown away. This is not always so! Problems due to a minor issue like a loose connection or slight sulfation can often be cured by relatively simple maintenance. Power can often be restored by tightening up loose terminals or cleaning them. Using desulfation techniques may sometimes even extend the life of the battery.
Myth 2: It Is Never Worth Cleaning Corrosion
Most people believe cleaning corrosion off a battery terminal is a complete waste of time. The reality is that corrosion upsets the electrical contact and affects overall performance.
To effectively clean corrosion yourself, mix baking soda into water until you create a paste. Slather it onto the corroded area, scrubbing over it lightly. Then, use vinegar because it is acidic and helps get rid of stuck corrosion.
Myth 3: Jumpstarting a Dead Battery Always Works
Jumpstarting sounds like a quick fix, but it is not always the case. Sometimes, jumpstarting will be of no help at all. When the battery suffers from internal damage, jumpstarting will not work. The chronic problems that batteries go through include deep sulfation and cell damage, which are not cured by jump-starting.
Depending entirely on jumpstarting alone can mask real problems that must be fixed.
Myth 4: Desulfation Is a Guaranteed Fix
Desulfation techniques can sometimes act as miracle cures, but they are not perfect in any sense. Desulfation helps dissolve lead sulfate crystals formed over time; however, they are not guaranteed fixes in every case.
What Desulfation Can Do:
- Minor Sulfation: Assists in breaking small crystals.
What It Cannot Do:
- Severe Sulfation: In the case of big crystals or overall destruction, desulfation will not work.
These little nuances will help you make an educated decision on whether or not desulfation is worth trying. By debunking these myths, you’re better armed to deal with car battery repairs and look after your vehicle more successfully.
Common Car Battery Issues You Should Know About
Knowing common car battery issues can be very valuable in terms of timely intervention and maintenance. Continue reading to dive into some typical problems you might go through with your car battery.
Dead Batteries
The inability to start your car, lights that are dim, or even a ‘clicking’ sound upon the turning of the ignition can also be defined as signs that may lead to the death of a battery. These usually indicate that the battery can no longer maintain a charge.
Internal Damage
Internal ones may not as easily be detected but include things like a swollen or leaking battery case. These symptoms mean that the internal makeup of the battery has broken down inside, and it could require more than an easy repair.
Sulfation
Sulfation is a condition where lead sulfate crystals clog the battery plates, and they are unable to function as intended. Regular driving and maintenance should be done to keep the charge in your battery and prevent sulfation. The inability or failure to deal with sulfation means it will reduce the life of your battery considerably.
These symptoms and signs, if recognized early, might save you from sudden breakdowns and costly repairs. Always be vigilant about any issues your car might be trying to tell you concerning the battery.
Car Battery Repair: Methods and Considerations
Car battery repair may be possible under the right circumstances. Knowing about the different techniques and their success rates can keep you informed when making decisions about your car battery issues.
Jumpstarting Procedures
The most common procedure is jumpstarting. Below is a short overview of the jumpstarting procedure.
Preparation
Switch off both vehicles. Connect the red or positive jumper cable to the red terminal on the dead battery and then connect the other red end to the red terminal on the live battery.
Negative Connections
This will entail attaching the black or negative jumper cable to the negative terminal of the live battery and then to an unpainted metal surface on the car with the dead battery.
Start and Run
When using a car with a good battery, start your car’s engine and run it until it warms up. After this, attempt to start your car’s engine.
Jumpstarting may give an immediate boost, but let this be a reminder that this will usually only be a temporary solution. The recurring problems usually call for more sophisticated diagnosis and repair, like from the professional services we offer here at HCS Auto Repair.
When to Go to a Pro for Car Battery Issues?
There comes a time when self-diagnosis will just not cut it, and that is where mastery comes in. You might just need a good and reliable mechanic. Specialized tools and knowledge are often required for complicated car battery problems at the discretion of professionals.
A professional can diagnose underlying problems that might have remained unseen without intervention, like internal damage or advanced sulfation. Some tests and repairs require specialized tools that aren’t available to the average garage. Car batteries also pose some serious handling hazards, including harmful chemical exposure. A professional ensures these risks are managed safely.
Our team at HCS Auto Repair in Springdale, AR, has ASE certified technicians who are capable of meeting these challenges skillfully and with care.
Is It Worth Repairing Your Car Battery? Evaluating Costs and Benefits
Whether you should repair or replace your car battery when it fails often depends on many variables, with age being a significant part.
Impact of Age on Assessment of Reparability
Car batteries serve their uses for about three to five years. The internal components have grown old and, thus, less potent or susceptible to breakdown. It might not be practical to have your battery repaired when it already falls at the end or beyond its expected lifetime, whereas one can easily get a replacement.
Cost of Repair versus Replacement
The repairs can be light, such as minor issues of terminal corrosion or minor sulfation. However, for older batteries, repairs usually tend only to be temporary. Under such circumstances, replacement may prove to be a better investment in the long run.
Performance and Reliability
You will probably find yourself still having a lot to deal with in car starting or other electrical issues. With a new battery, you can confidently know that everything is okay and works as it should.
Environmental Considerations
While repairs may sound eco-friendly in extending the life of a battery, generally, recycling an old battery and changing to a new one is more environmentally friendly. That being said, new modern batteries are made to be far more efficient and environmentally friendly.
When repairing a car battery is to be chosen, all the above factors have to be weighed with great care to make a correct decision, balancing cost, reliability, and environmental impact.
Choose HCS Auto Repair For Your Battery Needs
Knowing your options regarding auto repair, especially car battery repair, can save you a great deal of time, money, and frustration. When you need professional help, look no further than the experts here at HCS Auto Repair. Our ASE-Certified Technicians are standing by to help with all car battery needs. Call today at 479-662-1221 so we can get you back on the road safely and efficiently.