How to Rebuild 12 Volt Lead-Acid Batteries

Wear protective gloves and goggles before you rebuild the cell structure of your 12- volt battery. You need to access the cell reservoirs that contain highly toxic sulfuric acid that immediately burns on contact with skin.

Place your 12-volt lead-acid battery in a battery tray on a stable work surface. Remove the six battery cell caps on top of the battery. Either unscrew the caps using your fingers, or if the caps have slots, use a screwdriver. Each cell produces 2 volts and is linked in series to produce 12 volts. Put the caps to one side.

Check the fluid level inside the six cells. It's likely you find the fluid level is below the minimum mark on the inside of the cells. This means the process of the electrons flowing from one lead plate to the other inside the cell has stopped. The fluid, called electrolyte, is sulfuric acid and enables a chemical reaction to take place between the positive and negative plates when the battery gets a flow of electricity from the car's alternator or battery charger. If the fluid level drops below the minimum marker, the plates would be exposed, and they would corrode over time.

Rebuild the chemical cell structure by replacing the fluid. Use distilled water and top each cell up to the maximum marker inside the cell. It's important that you don't overfill the cell as during the charging process the cells get warm and the fluid expands. The distilled water will mix with any existing sulfuric acid in the cell and start to rebuild the chemical structure. However, for the process to begin the battery needs electrons to flow between the plates created by a small electric current from a battery charger.

Replace the cell caps using your fingers or a screwdriver. Don't over-tighten.

Put the spring clamp on the end of the black battery charger cable onto the negative battery terminal. It's clearly labeled "Neg," "-" or may have a black plastic ring around the terminal pole. Put the spring clamp on the end of the red battery charger cable onto the other battery terminal. It's clearly labeled "Pos," "+" or may have a red plastic ring around the terminal pole.

Set your battery on the lowest setting possible; often called "trickle charge." Rebuilding the chemical structure inside the cells takes time and it's important the process is done slowly so the distilled water gets more acidic. As acidity increases so electron flow increases between the lead plates. Any corrosion on the plates caused by lack of electrolyte dissipates rebuilding the structure.

Plug in your battery charger and turn it on. Check the setting again to make certain it's on the lowest possible. Leave the 12-volt lead-acid battery to charge slowly for 36 hours. During this time, the energy retention of the plates increases as chemical activity changes. You can check if the rebuilding process is working by touching the side of the battery after about 12 hours. You would find it's getting warm indicating that the battery is taking a charge.

Turn off the battery charger after about 36 hours. Disconnect the battery cable clamps from the battery terminals. Place your hand on the side of the 12-volt lead-acid battery, and you find it's fairly warm to the touch meaning the chemical cell structure is rebuilt, and your battery has retained a charge.