Rejuvenating a lead-acid battery?

[Jesda]

I'm cleaning and refurbishing a Power Wheels 2005 Mustang convertible. I bought it for my baby brother years ago and now I'm passing it along to a friend's toddler.

When I first plugged in the 12-volt battery it showed a reading of .5 volts. After a few days it hovered around 2.5v. Now after about ten days it's gone up to 7.8v.

I'm using the little Fisher Price charger since it has proprietary connectors, but I think I could get my Carquest trickle charger to fit since it has alligator clips.



Thoughts? Advice?

[themadscientist]

I don't think you can substantially reverse the, term? sulfation? on the plates.

Hook that kid up with a battery swap!

[Ace2cool]

Yeah, once a battery is that far gone, it's done. Hell, there's no guarantee that the alternator will sufficiently charge it enough to make the power back from starting it initially, so it may not start again even if you just shut it off.

[Bubba1]

Yeah, once a battery is that far gone, it's done. Hell, there's no guarantee that the alternator will sufficiently charge it enough to make the power back from starting it initially, so it may not start again even if you just shut it off.

Jesda, the average battery life of those power wheels batteries is maybe 3 years. Trickle charging one that old is not likely gonna work. And even if you could cram a charge into it, it won't last as long as a replacement battery. Power wheel Replacement batteries are not expensive..

[300ZXttZMAN]

Also note that once the battery is that far gone it may take a charge and look like a good battery as far as the tests are concerned, but it could have a bad cell which could cause it to just rapidly loose power even though its not being used.

If it has a bad cell, its time for a new battery.

[Mr1der]

damnit...where was that big wheel video I posted the other day...