Well, I sold our Mazda 6 to a young couple for a hundred bucks plus 68 for the battery it needed. This was a killer car, all options, needed a few things but they were very happy and we helped them a lot.
Well, I had 3 batteries from cars long ago and all were as dead as Elvis. Zero volts. they were all at least 5 years old and had been sitting in the yard because I was too lazy to take them to the dump or sell them for 10 bucks. Well, this time my laziness paid off BIG TIME.
I saw what I was 100% sure to be legit, a video of reviving dead batteries using a stick welder!!!!! So naturally I went to Harbor Freight and bought a stick welder for 150 bucks....80 amp inverter, 120 volts. With a pack of rods in case I actually use it for welding, it was 170 bucks after taxes.
Our Z3 takes a HUGE battery, it's in the back and has a long wire to the front. It does not take a lot to start the car really but all the shit running when it is "off" will drag a small battery down in a week, which is why I have a Batt. disconnect. I always buy shitty tiny batts. for 60 bucks. It is difficult to jump when the batt. is completely dead even with my really heavy nice cables.
Well fellows, I took one of the batts. hooked her up to the welder and away we went. I did my version of the method, it's not written in stone. Took a couple hours to do the thing. I then let her sit about 30 minutes after the final bake. Put her in the car and HOLY SHIT....it fired up like it had a factory battery. I was shocked. That Batt. was dead in the Mazda when we bought it, we jumped the car to drive it home! It had been sitting years in the yard. So, I cut the lights on bright, cut the blower motor on, let it sit a couple minutes, turned the key and she fired right up! So I let the car sit overnight w/o disconnecting the batt. and today it fired right up, 10 times. That battery is fixed.
I've now done 2 more with the exact same results.
Here's the method and it can be varied....this will NOT fix a battery that has a broken connection internally, but one that just stopped taking a charge due to sulfates, well, I'm 3 for 3.
DO THIS OUTSIDE. WEAR EYE PROTECTION. NO SMOKING OR FLAMES!!!!! This will make hydrogen gas and batteries do explode. Make sure the power is always off when connecting or disconnecting the welder!!!!!!!
1 some the acid will boil out, so make sure to have it where this will not be a problem, a "tote" maybe to put it in
2 make sure there is the proper amount of liquid, top off with distilled water if needed.
3 hook the ground of the welder to the Neg. terminal
4 I used a pair of vice grips to clamp a bolt to the Pos. for the electrode holder to grab.
5 you will do this in cycles.........start about 20 amps....let it cook for 10-15 minutes or so, cut off power to welder and let it sit 20-30 minutes, maybe 45.
6 go to 40 amps or so....repeat the cycle going to 60 amps, then 75 or so...........when you get to 75 amps, do the cycle a few times, not just once, maybe 5.
7 this will NOT damage the batt. and up to 140 amps should be ok, I only went to 75. and ran the 75 amp cycle a few times.
None of those batts. would even light the dash lights before I cooked them.
Here is what I thought of right away.... I have a thing about "golf cart repair shops".....I hate them, ours are gas but IF I had one that took batteries this would save a LOT of money and I am quite sure none of those places would want anyone to know this.
Now for something that is insane, to me. I think I'm ok and it should not be a problem. We have a couple 5 watt UV lasers. they will blind you forever before the blink reflex can save you. Even looking at the spot on a wall could damage you or blind you. I NEVER have batts. in them w/o safety glasses on. Even the correct glasses, which we have, will not protect you from a direct hit. Only a welding helmet will do that, maybe. Well, I showed one to a friend a couple days ago and did not realize I had screwed up and not removed the batts. I went to put it in the case today and accidently hit the button for an instant. It hit the tile floor at an angle and I saw the actual spot, for an instant while I closed my eyes and hit the switch off. This is BAD, really bad. Here's where shit goes crazy. For many years I have had many "floaters" in my eyes. Dark spots and lines floating around. So after incident I started looking at at papers and stuff to read to determine if I was damaged. Then I realized almost ALL of the floaters were gone and the couple that are still there are translucent and barely visible.
I have no explanation and do not see how this is possible but my vision seems clearer and the floaters are all but gone. I just hope my vision does not deteriorate but so far so good. I do not believe it will.
Ed
