Ask the Mechanic

Steve Thompson, Contributing Columnist

Never attempt to charge a frozen battery. The amount of charge in a battery reflects the temperature at which it will freeze. A battery with an available voltage of 11.5 volts is considered "dead." The sulfuric acid and distilled water mix in a battery becomes displaced as the charge in the battery decreases, allowing it to freeze at a higher temperature. A frozen battery can explode when a charger is hooked up to it. Always check the outside of the battery for cracks and inside all cells for ice before charging a battery that could possibly be frozen.

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-- Email Steve Thompson at mechanic@progressivefarmer.com, and be sure to include your contact information and phone number.

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