Should I Take the Old Battery After Replacement?
2 Answers
You can take it back, but the old battery has little value and can be disposed of as scrap. Here is some relevant information about batteries: Battery: A battery, also known as a storage battery, is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The battery referred to here is a lead-acid battery, which is mainly made of lead and its oxides, with sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte. The normal service life of a car battery ranges from 1 to 8 years, depending largely on the vehicle's usage conditions. Battery Replacement: If the battery is dead, it is recommended to first measure the battery voltage. If using a multimeter, measure the battery voltage when starting the engine. You can first use a high-frequency discharger or a battery tester to measure. Under a load current of no less than 110 amps, the minimum voltage should not be lower than 9.6 volts and should remain stable for 5 seconds. If the voltage is below 9.6 volts but can remain stable for 5 seconds, it indicates over-discharge and should be recharged promptly. If the voltage is below 9.6 volts and cannot remain stable for 5 seconds, dropping rapidly to 0 volts or close to 0 volts, it indicates a battery fault that may require replacement.
When I replaced car batteries before, I often saw customers struggling with how to dispose of the old ones. To be honest, you must take them back and hand them over to the shop for recycling—don’t keep or discard them yourself. Old car batteries contain lead and acid, and improper disposal can pollute soil and groundwater, harming both the environment and health. Reputable auto repair shops usually offer recycling services and may even give you $5 to $10 in recycling fees. For example, the lead can be remelted and reused, saving resources and reducing landfill burdens. I’ve even seen cases where people left old batteries in their garage, only for them to leak and corrode the floor, creating a messy cleanup. Environmental regulations are getting stricter, and improper disposal could result in fines of hundreds of dollars, so developing good habits is important—it’s both convenient and responsible.
