How to Change Your Dead Vehicle Battery

For one to change a dead car battery, they first need to establish that it is dead. One of the most obvious symptoms that will tell if the battery is dead or dying is when one turns the ignition keys and the car does not start. At times, a small click will be heard but the car will still not start. This is caused by the starter cylinoid, which tries to engage but perhaps the battery lacks enough power to make the engine turn over. Another symptom is when the headlights of the car do not come on when the car is turned on. If a driver observes any of the above symptoms, they should test the battery using a tester to determine the voltage of the battery. If the voltage is beneath 11 volts, then the driver should consider replacing it. If above this figure, attempts to jumpstart it can be justified. If one establishes that the battery of the car is dead and needs replacement, the following simple steps should be followed.

Make use of a charger. The red cable should be connected to the positive terminal while the black one is connected to the negative one. If the battery has a 'green eye' indicator for charging, only stop charging it when the indicator turns green. If it does not have one, the charger can be disconnected for thirty minutes and the battery voltage checked while the engine is stopped. If the result is 12.6 volts, then the battery is fully charged but if it is 12.3 volts then the battery is only half charged. A multimeter set should be used for a DC voltage with a range of more than 12 volts on a full scale. A charger of 5 Amps usually takes at least eight hours to complete charging the battery. Chargers that are more powerfully are best left for the experts as they can cause the battery to blow up.

The battery terminals should be cleaned during this process. This is because white powder building up on the terminals will prevent current from reaching the starter. It can be cleaned using baking soda and a wet rag as well as sand paper if need be. Be carefully not to short the terminal to a metallic car part. The charging system can be tested using a voltmeter. If it is charging effectively, the voltage will be from 14.0 to 14.5 volts. The current may also be leaking and in the process, causing the battery to discharge. If one suspects that this is the case, check it using the multimeter's current measuring side. To prevent accidents, the positive terminal of the battery should be covered and the negative terminal disconnected. It is worth noting that if the battery is charging well and the discharge current is less than 50 mA then the battery may be worn out and another one may have to be bought. To establish this, the driver can test it at the auto garage.

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