Many motorists, especially those with little experience, are faced with the problem of starting the car after a long parking, as well as with the onset of the first cold weather. In most cases, after several unsuccessful attempts to start the engine of the car, the search for the cause begins, which most often lies in the lack of proper control over the state of the battery. If the car has not been used for a long time, or it was operated in winter, and even in urban conditions, when you have to stand in traffic jams for a long time with the devices turned on, the likelihood of a dead battery is high.
Instructions
Step 1
Disconnect the battery from the vehicle's electrical system and measure the voltage on the battery with a voltmeter. It is advisable to do this not immediately, but several hours after stopping the engine and in a warm room, otherwise it will be necessary to make a correction for the temperature of the electrolyte. The state of charge of the battery can be determined from the tables in the reference books. If these data are not at hand, then be guided by the approximate figures - 12, 2 volts means 50% of the discharge; 11.6 volts - 100% discharge.
Step 2
Measure the electrolyte density with a hydrometer (densimeter) if you have a serviceable battery. For a fully charged device, the parameters should be 1.28 -1.29 gcm?, In summer time 1.26-1.27 gcm?, With a discharge of 50% -1.20 gcm?, For a fully discharged one - 1.10. Owners of modern maintenance-free batteries are exempt from this procedure.
Step 3
Recharge the battery with the charger. If the voltage is less than 12.6 V and the density of the electrolyte is less than 1.24 gcm. cube, having previously brought the level and density of the electrolyte to the norm.
Step 4
Check the battery voltage with the engine running at 1500-2000 RPM and the high beam headlights on. A voltage from 13.9 volts to 14.3 volts indicates that the recharging system is working optimally, and deviations to a smaller or larger side make it possible to conclude that there is insufficient charge or overcharge. Both are harmful to the battery and reduce its useful life. Undercharging can be the result of a weak tension on the alternator belt.
Step 5
Make it a rule to recharge the battery after a long pause in using the car (more than 3 weeks in summer, more than 10 days in winter). Remember that activated car alarms also lead to a gradual discharge of the battery.
