Does Battery Reconditioning Really Work?

Does Battery Reconditioning Really Work?

Yes, battery reconditioning works, and it can extend the service life of a battery for up to six more years

Note: Battery reconditioning is different with hybrid batteries. These are reconditioned by testing each of the cells, disassembling the battery, and replacing the faulty cells with new ones.

What Is Battery Reconditioning?

Also known as battery refurbishing, battery reconditioning is the process of cleaning sulfate crystals from the battery plates and replenishing the battery’s electrolyte solution. This restores the car battery, enabling it to function like new for up to six more years.

What Are the Common Ways To Recondition a Battery?

There are several ways you can recondition a car battery.

Replacing Faulty Modules

Auto manufacturers like Toyota have their own recycling centers where they collect battery packs from customers and scrap yards. This allows them to harvest spare battery parts that can be used to recondition car batteries.

High-Flow Charging

Lead-acid batteries are charged using high current and high voltage, countering the effects of vulcanization. However, this can also cause the battery to reach too-high temperatures, damaging its internal structure.

Sulfation Repair Method

Sulfate crystals can form on the battery plate as a result of a battery discharge process called sulfation. This buildup negatively affects the battery’s charging time, capacity, and efficiency. To remove these crystals, the battery is charged and discharged repeatedly using a battery repair instrument.

Shallow Cycle Charge

Similar to the sulfation repair method, the battery is charged and discharged repeatedly but with a current of 5 amps. This method is most effective on lightly vulcanized batteries.

Water Loss Repair

This method involves adding pure water, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, and other chemicals to the batteries. Water loss repair can restore up to 80% of the battery capacity, making it a popular reconditioning method.

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How To Recondition a Car Battery

Reconditioning a car battery all by yourself can be intimidating, but there are ways you can make things easier.

Prepare the Necessary Tools

Before we get down to business, you’ll have to prepare a few things first. You’ll need a multimeter or voltmeter, a battery charger with reconditioning mode, and safety gear. Chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, and thick work clothes are a must when working on car batteries.

Clean the Battery

If the battery terminals are corroded, you’ll have to clean them first. You can use a battery cleaning product or a homemade cleaning solution made from baking soda and water. Apply the product to the corroded and dirty areas, and gently scrub with a toothbrush or steel wool.

Verify the Voltage

Using a voltmeter, verify the voltage of your car battery. If it has a voltage between 10V and 12.6V, you can still recondition the battery. If it has a voltage lower than 10V, then you might be better off replacing it instead.

Clean and Empty the Battery Cells

Prepare an empty bucket and a half-pound of baking soda. After taking the battery cover off, use a flathead screwdriver to remove the cell caps. Then, carefully drain the cell contents into the bucket. Once the cells are empty, mix baking soda into the acid. This will neutralize the battery acid and make it safe for disposal.

Replace the Battery Cell Solution

You’ll need to prepare a new electrolyte solution for your car battery. Mix four cups of water with four ounces of Epsom salt. After stirring the solution, pour it into the cells using a funnel.

Recharge the Battery

Now it’s time to recharge the battery. Set up your battery charger as far away from the battery as possible, and set it to a speed of 12 V per 2 amps. Leave the battery charging for 36 hours.

Test the Battery

Take your voltmeter and check your battery’s voltage. If it reads around 12.4V, then you can now perform a load test. If the voltage reads below 12.4V, recharge your battery for another 12 hours before checking its voltage again.

To perform a load test, you’ll have to reinstall the battery and turn on your vehicle’s high beams. After a few minutes, test the battery again with your voltmeter. If it reads around 9.6V, then you’re good to go.

Should You Recondition Your Car Battery?

Well, that depends entirely on your hybrid car’s battery. If it’s in relatively good condition, then reconditioning it is a good option to consider. Reconditioned car batteries are a cost-efficient and eco-friendly alternative to buying new batteries. You can save over 50% of the cost of a new battery, conserve energy, and reduce waste.

However, there are some cases where you might not have a choice. Most manufacturers don’t recommend reconditioning heavily damaged, corroded, and older batteries. Some battery types are also less likely to yield successful results. While lithium-ion (Li-ion) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries can benefit from reconditioning, absorbent glass mat (AGM) and gel cell batteries could get damaged in the process. For the latter two types of batteries, it might be better to simply replace them.