If My Car Battery Needs Replacement How Do I Know
A car battery can usually last many years, but there are a few signs that tell you itâs time to replace the battery. If your gauge needle moves out of the âgoodâ region or is difficult to start your engine, those might be some red flags.Another sign is that the headlights seem dimmer than usual. Oil leaks from below the oil filler cap also typically indicate a bad battery connection and may need fixing as well by replacing old screws with new ones, for example.
The Battery’s Pollution Effects On The Environment
When the second life ends, the product life of these EV batteries is usually seen as the greenest means. The components of the barriers such as nickel, cobalt, copper and lithium can be reused. But when dumping these EV batteries into a landfill, this causes serious environmental issues. When the lithium-ion batteries get recycled, the damaged lithium batteries can let out toxic fumes, which cause severe problems for human health and the surrounding environment.
Your Car Battery Is A Heavy Lump Of Toxic Metals And Acid Properly Disposing Of That Battery Can Avoid An Environmental Disaster
You generally dont think about your cars battery until it starts giving you problems. When its time to replace that battery, its usually an easy process to swap it out. But what do you do with that old, dead battery? Dont just throw it away recycle it.
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How And Where To Dispose Of An Old Battery
Used vehicle batteries must be recycled in facilities that are properly equipped to handle them. In general this means a scrap metal facility, garage, or local recycling center. If youre replacing the battery in a car, you can often turn in the old battery at the same place you purchase the new one.
If youre going to scrap the entire car, it can be easiest to leave the battery in the car. Any authorised scrap metal yard, equipped to process end-of-life vehicles, should have the necessary equipment to process the battery as well. If youve removed the battery, or even found an old car battery lurking in your dads workshop, youll have to do a little more research to find the best place to dispose of it.
While it can be worth checking some of the above places that can take your used battery, like a garage or local recycling center, you can also look up an Authorised Treatment Facility . These are same facilities that accept scrap cars for recycling, and they are equipped to handle used batteries, or at least to send them on to specialised facilities to be recycled. Look up an ATF near via this site.
How To Package Car Batteries For Recycling Pick
Depending on the car battery type, such as whether they are lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or lithium-ion, there are specific guidelines to follow in order to properly recycle them.
But dont worry for car batteries, we at Battery Recyclers of America provide white-glove services to palletize your batteries that adhere to federal DOT safety regulations.
For more details, we conveniently offer a comprehensive step-by-step guide to package your batteries here. For other types of batteries, we also provide detailed answers on our FAQ page regarding how to package different battery types.
If youre unsure which type of car battery you have, feel free to contact us and one of our associates will help you identify it.
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Q What Should I Do If My Old Battery Spilled Some Acid
A. Battery acid is sulfuric acid, and it can be safely neutralized by diluting the spill with some water, and then covering it with baking soda. Keep adding baking soda until the spill stops bubbling. Once this chemical reaction has finished, mop up the remaining solution with some more water and paper towels.
Recycling Your Old Battery: How Does It Work
As we mentioned before, recycling your old car battery is just about as easy as throwing out your back trying to lift the darn thing. The real kicker? Its free, and someone might even give you money for it.
Just bring the battery to your local parts store or any big box store with an automotive service department. Theyll gladly take it, and they may even give you a small gift card in return. If you buy a new battery from these establishments, theyll credit your purchase with the value of your old battery.
In addition, communities or trash removal services with hazardous waste collection capabilities will also accept used car batteries. Some municipalities will even collect the battery if you leave it on the curb with your trash. However, check your local regulations before doing this. Most metal recycling facilities will also accept car batteries.
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Safety Tips For Moving Batteries
Stay safe by using the Halfords guide to handling car batteries:
- Battery acid can burn clothing and skin and even cause blindness if it leaks, so wear protective clothing when inspecting a battery prior to disconnection/transportation.
- Disconnect the battery before inspecting it.
- Always disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last.
- Before moving a battery, carry out a thorough inspection of its condition, using a torch to check all sides of the battery for marks, dents or leaks.
- If the battery has any severe dents or leaks then contact a professional mechanic or breakdown service for assistance and get it repaired or replaced. Dont attempt to move it.
- During transport, cover the terminals so they cant be shorted out.
- Keep the battery upright at all times.
- Batteries can be fairly heavy, so be careful when lifting and carrying the battery. Seek assistance if required.
Pro Tips To Dispose Of A Car Battery
You know you want more useful tips, so heres everything weve got.
- Be extra cautious if youre removing an old lead-acid battery, as theres a higher risk that this unit could have a leak.
- Batteries weigh between 30 and 50 pounds, so make sure to brace yourself before lifting yours out of the engine bay. If you need some extra height to get a better grip, try using a stepping stool.
- Some metal recycling facilities will offer you cash in exchange for your old battery.
- Never let your wrench touch the negative and positive terminals simultaneously, as touching both terminals could create a spark and even cause the battery to explode.
- You usually pay a core charge when you buy a new battery, but if you give your old battery to the retailer, this charge is refunded.
- If you dont need a new battery, many auto parts stores, like AutoZone, will give you a gift card in exchange for your old battery.
- Metal recycling establishments will often offer you cash for your old battery, as the lead inside it is worth money.
- Dropping your old battery off somewhere that has a hazardous chemical pick-up/drop-off point should be your last option, as youll get the least return for your battery.
- Some clamps require two wrenches to disconnect them, as theyre secured with a nut on both ends, so you might need to borrow a spare wrench.
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Why The Need To Recycle Old Batteries
Ofall the constituents of old car batteries, Lead is the most harmful because notonly is it highly toxic but it is also very difficult to clean up, and it canjust sit in the environment and contaminate the underground water many yearsafter contamination. This is particularly for young people below 10 yearsbecause the element can cause irreparable damage to the developing brain andnervous system.
Asidefrom the above, each lead-acid car battery holds 20 pound or more of leadalone, which is a lot to throw away and is quite valuable as well. Factoriesneed lead to produce cell towers, turbines, and of course, more car batteries.Because of the high demand for lead, car batteries can be recycled, and in mostcases, you can get some payment or discount towards a new battery.
Whatyou need to keep in mind is to dispose of your car batteries responsible. Followthe steps outlined in this article to find out how to dispose of car batteries.
Preparing The Battery For Transport
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Safely Disconnecting Your Battery
If your car isnt starting or is struggling on hot or cold days, it may be time to replace the battery. However, make sure you properly test it before buying a new battery. Starting problems can also be caused by loose wiring or other easily fixed problems. You may also be able to charge your car battery.
Once you know its time to replace the battery, be sure to do disconnect it safely, following these steps:
- Always remember to disconnect the negative battery terminal first.
- Never allow your wrench to touch the positive and negative terminals at the same time. Your battery may be dead for the purposes of starting your car, but it usually still has some energy. Completing a circuit with your wrench and your body can be dangerous.
- A battery is heavy. Lift with your knees, not your back, and watch your feet and fenders as you hoist it.
How Can Halfords Help
Under current legislation, car batteries cant be sent to landfill sites without going through a long clean-up process, so your best bet is to pop down to your local Halfords store where we can dispose of and recycle your battery for you.
We use an approved waste disposal company that can recover up to 95% of the lead from car batteries. The batteries are recycled here in the UK, helping to cut down on CO2 emissions, and are turned into new batteries, automobile parts and plasterboard components.
All of which means that bringing your old battery to us for recycling is a great option for both you and the environment.
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Can Batteries Be Thrown Out
Batteries contain chemicals and metals that together produce the reaction that generates electrical energy. While recycling of batteries is encouraged to protect the environment, common household alkaline batteries are considered nonhazardous and may be tossed out with ordinary trash.
Button cell batteries used in items like remote car starters and watches contain silver and mercury. They must be recycled. In California, all household batteries are categorized as hazardous waste. Batteries must be brought to a household hazardous waste disposal facility or an authorized recycling facility in the state.
Second Life For Lithium
A new design for lithium-ion batteries just might save the planet on a lot of fronts. By using the discharged battery cells to generate electricity, the new device not only eliminates the need for mining for lithium, which may be linked to child labor, but could also completely avoid greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result, the new design could eliminate the need to change old batteries for new ones. Lithium-ion batteries dont like being hot and cold they perform best at room temperature and lose their capacity to hold a charge over time. But the new design could be inserted into an existing battery to keep it running efficiently.
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Why Proper Battery Disposal Is Important
A typical car battery is made of lead plates and sulfuric acid. As you probably know, lead is one of the most toxic heavy metals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that lead poisoning can cause behavioral and learning problems in children. If a car battery ends up in a landfill, its likely to contaminate the soil and ground water.
Fortunately, automotive batteries are the most recycled consumer product in the country. Ninety-nine percent of all car batteries are recycled into new car batteries!
How Does Car Battery Recycling Work Is There A Fee
Kal Tire will accept your vehicle battery. The core recycling charge that would be added to the cost of a new battery is waived if we receive the old battery when you purchase a new battery. In addition to batteries for your car, SUV and truck, we also stock and accept batteries for your RV, boat, commercial and farm vehicles.
Some private scrap metal or battery recycling companies will pay you for exhausted vehicle batteries.
Just be sure to handle your battery with care on the way. Some people like to wear gloves and double-bag their batteries for easy transport to a recycling depot.
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Are you wondering if your car battery is near the end of its life?
Visit Kal Tire so one of our mechanical experts can inspect it for you and give advice on best next steps.
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Disposing Of A Car Battery
How Far Can An Electric Car Go On A Single Charge
Most electric car manufacturers have batteries that power a car for 250 miles on a single charge. However, for models like Tesla, they have more powerful batteries that do about 350 miles on a single charge. Luckily, many vehicle manufacturers are promising to bring batteries with longer mileage per charge and faster charging.
With the rising global warming challenge, the automakers have chosen to lead in the fight against the calamity. As such, electro mobility is the way to restore our environment. Ball on your court, safely dispose of electric car batteries.
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Properly Identifying Your Car Battery
Car batteries are often referred to as automotive batteries or SLI batteries. These are rechargeable batteries that hold the responsibility of starting the vehicles engine and stabilizing electrical requirements to prevent dangerous voltage spikes. Many modern SLI batteries are a type of lead-acid battery .
Car batteries usually consist of six galvanic cells in a series circuit, with each cell containing lead plates for the anode and lead coated with lead dioxide for the cathode. This rechargeable battery works by reversing the chemical reaction after the battery has discharged. To do this, the lead sulfate reforms into lead dioxide, restoring the plates to their original condition to be ready for reuse.
When Is The Right Time To Replace A Carbattery
Each battery has a different timeline, but on average, a car battery can last about three to five years or longer depending on your maintenance routine.
Replace your battery immediately if you notice bulging from being frozen, your battery is leaking fluid or corrosion forms on the terminals. If the battery caps on your battery thats supposed to keep the fluid from spilling out are missing or damaged and you cant find replacement caps from an auto parts store, you should consider discarding the battery to prevent damage to your vehicles paint or wiring.
In most cases, a depleted battery can be charged back to a usable state, but if the battery cannot hold enough charge overnight to power your engine in the morning, then it might be time to dispose of it. If the battery is new, you can get it tested at an auto store to know if the battery is really faulty or youre the problem is from your vehicles electrical system.
If after these tests and your battery is deemed faulty, fails a load test, or is damaged, you will need to get a replacement and dispose of the old one.
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