How can I tell if my battery is low and needs to be recharged?
The first and most likely indication of a low battery would be a hard starting problem caused by slow cranking. If the battery seems weak or fails to crank your engine normally, it may be low. To find out, you need to check the battery’s “state of charge.”
A battery is nothing more than a chemical storage device for holding electrons until they’re needed to crank the engine or run the lights or other electrical accessories on your vehicle. Checking the battery’s state of charge will tell you how much juice the battery has available for such purposes.
If your battery is low, it needs to be recharged, not only to restore full power, but also to prevent possible damage to the battery. Ordinary automotive lead-acid storage batteries must be kept at or near full charge to keep the cell plates from becoming “sulfated” (a condition that occurs if the battery is run down and left in a discharged condition for more than a few days). As sulfate builds up, it reduces the battery’s ability to hold a charge and supply voltage. Eventually the battery becomes useless and must be replaced.
Recharging The Battery
CAUTION: Do not attempt to recharge a battery with low (or frozen) electrolyte! Doing so risks blowing up the battery if the hydrogen gas inside is ignited by a spark.
Your charging system should be capable of recharging the battery if it is not fully discharged. Thirty minutes or so of normal driving should be enough.
If your battery is completely dead or extremely low, it should be recharged with a fast or slow charger. This will reduce the risk of overtaxing and damaging your vehicle’s charging system. One or both battery cables should be disconnected from the battery prior to charging it with a charger. This will eliminate any risk of damage to your vehicle’s electrical system or its onboard electronics.
If you have any question feel free to contact or visit Planet Ford 45’s service department and ask for further assistance.
Remember be safe when working on electrical components.