Rejuvenating Car Battery

My Ma's Toyota is the same. Toyota main dealer says that the standing life of the battery is less than 2 weeks because of the various drains due to permanent lives within the car. Blimey. What happens if you go on your holibobs and leave your car at the airport for 14 days. Hmmm? Mind you I did see a lot of AA vans at Purple Parking last we were there. I digress.

What I'd suggest is one of those plug in solar chargers to keep it topped up when not in use. My parents keep theirs in the garage so no good to them.

I'm on a budget of £8 here - hence why i was enquiring about the use of the acid and fresh distilled again

Cant afford solar charger at the moment, or a jump pack. The battery fitted does LOOK a little on the diddy size, but i have a big curse word bosch battery (try saying that drunk!) on my VW Golf i could swap it with....but then that'd still leave me the issue of 'to empty and fill' or not!

As said, the only real way to maintain a battery that's left for long periods is a conditioner/maintenance charger.

I bought one from Halfords and it's a really good bit of kit. I used to leave it plugged into the battery of my Z1 because it was sometimes left for 4-6 months over the winter. Battery was always in perfect condition. The same on my Delica if I wasn't using it, and my Rascal etc...it always kept the batteries in optimum condition.

There is no other real solution. Changing the fluids might be a short term fix, but unless you find something to maintain the battery then you'll always run into the same problems.

Maintenance chargers fully charge the battery then turn off when max charge is acheived. They then monitor the state of charge and if it drops, it tops it back up and turns off again...ad infinitum.

I've got two of these ones (mine are the older casing, but the same charger) www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_210939_categoryId_165629_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_List_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PLPz1

You can also get this one which is cheaper, but not sure if it's better/worse? Never used it myself so can't comment... www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_190498_langId_-1_categoryId_165629

I know you're on a budget, but in this case I really think they are worth the investment especially as awattam says, you'll reap the benefits over having to buy new batteries when they eventually give up completely.

I've never looked into the solar chargers because any of my motors that are left for any length are always indoors, but if you go that route make sure they have a maintenance function or at the very least, a decent cut-off built in. Overcharging a battery is a lot worse than letting it go flat. A LOT worse!

At best you'll kill the battery but you could risk it boiling and expanding/splitting the casing (acid spill) or releasing a lot of gas which could be an explosive risk.

Basically, any type of charger should be properly regulated to avoid this and therefore it is often best to buy a decent charger/maintenance charger than saving some money getting a cheap one which could be a false economy and also pretty dangerous.

Right! I have news!

So...emptied all the electrolyte out...and put in a solution of epsom salts, and distilled water. Left it overnight, rinsed it out with more distilled water. Topped up with a 'ready mix' 37% sulphuric/63% distilled water electrolyte (£1.80 a bottle), and it's on charge now. Went from 10.95 volts before, to even before charging....13.01 volts! On charge now, and it's climbing by 0.01volts every 10 seconds. Going to leave it til it hits about 14.4v, take it off charge, and see where we are

FYI - this is a Motaquip VBY32 Powercharge Plus, date of manufacture is 2009! :/