How To Open A Car Battery To Add Water

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Learning how to safely check the electrolyte levels in your car battery is an of import aspect of machine maintenance that should exist performed a few times each year. Checking is important for two reasons: first, because electrolyte naturally evaporates and second, because a small amount electrolyzes into hydrogen and oxygen every time the battery charges.

1
Locate the battery. In most cars, y'all simply demand to open the hood of your machine to access the battery.^[ane]
- Some batteries are located lower in the engine compartment, behind the front bumper and ahead of the front end wheels. These are sometimes accessed from the bottom and demand to exist removed for service.
- About BMW and Mercedes Benz batteries and a few others are located in the trunk, concealed in an isolated compartment.
- Batteries may likewise be located nether the rear seat, such as in some Cadillacs.
2
Make clean. Earlier you lot cheque the h2o levels, make clean any dirt or debris from the top of the bombardment and around the battery terminals. This is important, equally you lot practise not want any strange cloth entering the battery cells when you open up them. This is also important considering a clean bombardment surface helps slow or stop corrosion on nearby metal.^[2]
- For full general cleaning of road grime and minor corrosion, utilise an ammonia-based window cleaner. Spray the cleaner on your rag — not on the bombardment itself — and wipe abroad any dirt. Paper towels can be used as long as you supervene upon them before they disintegrate to bits.
- Heavy corrosion can exist cleaned with a paste of blistering soda and h2o. Again, wet the rag and wipe, do not soak the battery with baking soda. Sometimes it takes many repetitions of wetting the rag and wiping. Follow upwardly by cleaning with a rag dampened with window cleaner to remove the baking soda. Leaving a residue of baking soda on the exterior of the battery will speed up future corrosion of the terminals and nearby metal.
- Don't go alee of yourself here — exist sure the covers are on the bombardment ports at this phase of cleaning. Do not let cleaning fluids baste or flow into the battery through the ports.
- Note: If yous adopt, you tin remove the bombardment from the car earlier cleaning and performing this maintenance, and reinstall it later. This may be safer, especially if the battery is in an awkward location. This volition reset some or all of the electronics in the car withal (clock, radio station presets, etc.). If the battery can be serviced without removing it from the car, this ordinarily saves considerable time overall.
- You can also remove the battery terminals from the bombardment and dip them in a cup of very hot water. The hot h2o will melt away the corrosion, leaving a clean surface. Brand certain the terminals are completely dry before replacing them on the battery. (This will also reset the car'due south electronics.)
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3
Open up the ports. On summit of the bombardment are typically two semi-rectangular plastic covers used to seal each battery cell port. These can be removed by gently prying with plastic putty knife or a screwdriver. Try prying from a number of points around the periphery of the cover if the cover does non immediately come loose.
- Some batteries take six individual circular covers instead. These tin be removed by twisting counter-clockwise, and then lifting them out.
- If the battery is labeled equally "maintenance complimentary," it is not designed to be opened. Manufacturers advise that h2o cannot be added to these batteries, they just demand to exist replaced if they stop working well.
4
Go along cleaning if necessary. Removing the port covers may reveal more clay on the top of the battery. Proceed cleaning by wiping away from the ports with a rag dampened with window cleaner.
- Exercise not apply baking soda for this cleaning. Utilise a pocket-size amount of window cleaner, and exist very conscientious to preclude anything (cleaner, dirt, bits of paper towel, etc.) from inbound the ports.
- Don't be tempted to skip this step — keeping the meridian of the bombardment clean will reduce future corrosion. This is an important aspect of battery maintenance for preserving the integrity of the connections.

ane
Compare the fluid levels in each cell. Past looking down into each port yous can see the electrolyte level of each private cell. Each prison cell is supposed to exist covered in an equal amount of fluid.^[three]
- If this is not the instance it could have been caused merely by accidental overfilling previously, in which case the problem is easily corrected by proper filling later, afterward the overfilled level has gone down in normal service to the normal range.
- If fluid levels are obviously diff, information technology is likewise possible that the battery may have a small fluid leak or a cracked example. If so the battery needs to be replaced. If there is no obvious leakage, fill the battery to the maximum condom level, using distilled water but, and cheque again in a few weeks to see if the levels have remained compatible.
2
Recognize when electrolyte levels are depression. The electrolyte is too low if any role of the plates is exposed to air. If the plates are not fully covered with electrolyte, then the battery cannot operate at full capacity.^[4]
- Exposing the plates to air ruins the expanse exposed to air in a thing of days.
- If the electrolyte is only most 1/two inch (1 cm) below the top of the plates, adding enough water to the battery to just cover the plates may return it to serviceable condition at a slightly reduced chapters. (Instructions for adding water follow in Part three of this wiki article.) Otherwise, yous will need to consider replacing the battery.
- A low electrolyte level could exist caused by overcharging, so if this is the case, y'all should consider having your alternator checked.
3
Recognize when electrolyte levels are normal. The normal fluid level is most 1/ii inch (i cm) above the tops of the plates or well-nigh 1/8 inch (3 mm) below the bottoms of the filler tubes that extend down from the port openings.
- If this is the case it may non be worth the try to fill the battery at this time. Simply replace the port covers and inspect again in iii months.
four
Recognize when the electrolyte is at its maximum level. The maximum safe fluid level is just touching the bottom of the filler tubes.
- Most filler tubes have a pair of slots in the side somewhere nigh the bottom of the tube. This causes the meniscus (the niggling bit of liquid that bends up near the edge of the tube) to have a distinctive eye-shape if the fluid is touching the filler tube, whereas there is no meniscus if the fluid is below the bottom of the filler tube.
- The eye-shaped meniscus is designed as a betoken to terminate filling. You may demand to use a flashlight to see the fluid level and the presence or absence of the meniscus clearly.
5
Continue in mind that these levels are for lead-acrid automotive batteries only. You should always follow the advice of your battery dealer or the battery manufacturer if it conflicts with the data provided in this article.
- Also be aware that batteries for golf carts, floor cleaning machines, and nickel cadmium batteries especially may require other electrolyte levels.

1
Use only distilled water to fill the cells. Distilled water can exist purchased at well-nigh grocery stores. If the electrolyte levels in the cells are low (plates are exposed), fill up each jail cell to just cover the plates. And then use a battery charger to recharge the battery, or just drive the car for a few days in normal service. Just fill up to the maximum condom level — just touching the bottoms of the filler tubes — if the battery is fully charged.^[five]
- Use a make clean funnel, sports bottle, turkey baster, etc. to ensure control of the flow and accuracy of the concluding level when filling each port. Exist very careful to foreclose whatsoever dirt or cleaning agents from getting into the cells.
- Using tap water, well h2o, filtered water, or anything but distilled water, will introduce minerals and chemicals (e.m. chlorine if it is city h2o) and other contaminates that will result in decreased bombardment life.^[vi]
ii
If the battery is weak or dead, avoid filling the cells fully. If yous are adding h2o because the battery is weak or expressionless, it is better to fill it just enough to cover the plates (or get out information technology alone if information technology is at a normal level).^[seven]
- When a weak or dead battery is charged the electrolyte level will rise, therefore you should allow space for the level to ascent when you charge the battery. (This does not happen to a fully charged battery.)
- Electrolyte levels can also rise if the battery gets hot.
iii
Wipe upwardly spills and close the ports. Ensure all areas are make clean and free from dirt or droppings, then place cleaned port covers back onto the battery.
- If y'all accidentally overfilled the battery but there is no overflow onto the meridian surface of the battery, the best thing to practice is just to stop filling and let it be. If there was an overflow onto the elevation of the battery, remember that the overflow is acidic — exercise not allow information technology affect your skin or clothing.
- Clean it with a rag or with paper towels by wiping away from the ports. Do not permit the rag or paper towels go wet enough to baste on other parts of the car or anything. Rinse the rag or paper towel in a pail of water. Wear gloves—don't get the water on your hands.
- After the task is done, discard the rinsed-out rag or paper towel in the regular trash. Pour the h2o downwards a drain, beingness careful not to splash the h2o around. You do not want to take a run a risk that the residue of acid will get on something else. Finally, clean anything that the overflow contacted with a rag dampened with window cleaner.
- Visually audit any overfilled battery weekly for a month to see if there is any further overflow, and clean whatever overflow as described to a higher place if necessary.
- The sulfuric acrid lost from the battery past an adventitious overflow is probably a pocket-size plenty amount every bit to be immaterial to the functioning of the battery. It is best not to endeavor to add acid to to replace the loss. (Too much acid shortens the life of the bombardment more than too fiddling.)

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1
Protect your optics by wearing safety goggles. The electrolyte in the battery is sulfuric acid, and so it is extremely important that none of this liquid gets into your eyes, as it could crusade pregnant damage or even incomprehension.^[8]
- Contact lenses afford you no protection and may complicate an accident. Ordinary spectacles practise not protect fairly due to the lack of side shields.
- Therefore, it'southward essential to wear safety goggles, which can exist purchased at most hardware stores.
2
Protect your easily by wearing disposable gloves. Choose a glove-type that can stand up to sulfuric acid for at least a few minutes. These tin be found at hardware stores.
- Latex and vinyl gloves will not stand up to acid long. If you apply latex or vinyl gloves, change the glove immediately upon noticing a splash on it. Given fourth dimension, a splash of electrolyte volition soak through the glove and fire your skin.
- Neoprene gloves offer protection for an hr or more, but are harder to find at ordinary hardware stores. Nitrile is not the same as Neoprene. Nitrile gloves offering less protection from sulfuric acid than latex, and should not be used.
iii

Protect your skin. Article of clothing quondam clothing with long sleeves, long pants, and closed toe shoes to comprehend every bit much skin every bit possible. If whatsoever electrolyte splashes on your clothing the material will rot away in nigh a week or two, leaving a hole, so wear old clothes that y'all tin sacrifice.
4
Know what to practice if the electrolyte touches your skin. If whatsoever electrolyte splashes on your skin, immediately wash information technology with running h2o and soap.^[9]
- If you feel a burning or tingling sensation on your skin anywhere, you lot may accept splashed a drop of electrolyte on yourself. Information technology only takes a drop to cause a burn.
- Yous may not exist able to see any redness or injury until it is too belatedly, so if you suspect you may have splashed yourself, have a break from your piece of work and wash immediately rather than taking a chance.
- Dispose of all used gloves and rags when the job is done. Leaving these in contact with other materials could cause impairment.

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Be sure that your eyes are protected. Battery acid tin can blind yous and is very corrosive.
Wearable rubber glasses when checking and filling battery cell liquid levels.
Keep all areas gratuitous and clear of debris while servicing battery.
If you practice not know what yous're doing, take your car to a mechanic. Most auto-parts stores volition perform this service complimentary of charge.
Use a i-inch wide plastic putty pocketknife to pry off port covers. Plastic putty knives can be purchased at near hardware stores or where house pigment is sold. Alternatively, a screwdriver with an insulated handle may be used, but when prying, be conscientious not to accidentally touch the metal shaft of the screwdriver to whatever other metallic. That could cause a spark which could ignite hydrogen gas inside the battery.
Do not remove any bombardment port covers while the car is running.
Make clean the battery. Dirt holds moisture and becomes slightly conductive, especially clay exposed to acidic fumes from the battery. Current flowing over the exterior surfaces of the bombardment through dirt promotes corrosion of nearby metal.

Things You'll Need

Condom glasses
Gloves. Neoprene is best. Latex or Vinyl are OK. Nitrile can't stand to bombardment acid.
Rags or paper toweling
Distilled H2o
Sports bottle, turkey baster, or a funnel.
Ammonia-based window cleaner
Baking soda (optional--if heavy corrosion is present on the battery terminals)
One inch wide plastic putty knife (optional) for prying off port covers, or carefully use a screwdriver with an insulated handle.

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Article Summary X

Before checking the water levels in your motorcar'due south battery, make certain to wear safety goggles and dispensable gloves to protect your eyes and skin from the electrolytes in the battery. Then, clean off the dirt from the top of the battery and open the ports so you can check the fluid level in each prison cell. If the cells are non covered in an equal amount of fluid, you'll demand to fill them with just enough h2o to cover the plates. Afterwards, wipe up whatsoever spills and identify the port covers back onto the battery. For more advice from our Automotive reviewer, including how to adjust the fluid levels in your battery, read on!

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