Should the Old Battery Be Kept When Replacing a Car Battery?

[DelCamila]

When replacing a car battery, the old battery can be recycled. It can be directly sold to battery stores for recycling. After replacing the battery, the original battery is of no use to the vehicle owner and is difficult to store. Moreover, if it leaks, it can affect surrounding items. Here are some tips for car battery maintenance: 1. Avoid leaving the vehicle parked for extended periods: The battery installed in the car will self-discharge over time if left unused. It is best to drive the car at least once a week, with a trip duration of at least 20 minutes, to allow the battery to recharge while driving. 2. Close windows before turning off the engine: The power for operating the car's windows and sunroof comes from the battery. Therefore, it is advisable to close all windows before turning off the engine, rather than after, or even using the long-press lock button method to close the windows after leaving the car. 3. Keep the battery clean and tidy: Regular inspections are an effective way to extend the life of a car battery. Use a professional battery electrode brush or an old toothbrush to clean dust and corrosion from the battery's positive and negative terminals. Applying petroleum jelly or a fatty substance to the contact surfaces can form a protective film.

[OLydia]

Every time I replace my car battery, I directly sell the old one to the auto repair shop. The owner pays by weight, giving me a few dozen yuan—enough to buy a case of mineral water. These things contain lead plates and sulfuric acid, so they absolutely must not be discarded carelessly! Once, a neighbor threw one in the residential trash bin, and the leaked acid corroded the base of the bin, nearly prompting the property management to call the police. Proper recycling points also prevent heavy metals from contaminating the soil. When we replace batteries, remember to keep the replacement receipt—some cities check these for environmental compliance. I recommend letting repair shops handle it—they have long-term partnerships with recycling centers, ensuring safe resource recycling.

[VanEvan]

Last time I went to the 4S shop to replace the battery, the technician proactively asked if I wanted to take the old battery with me. They offer a 50-100 yuan discount on labor fees for recycling it and can provide a recycling certificate. It's worth noting that lead-acid batteries have a recycling rate of over 98%, so throwing them in the trash is a waste of resources. I specifically checked, and illegal disposal could result in fines! It's recommended to let the shop that replaces the battery handle it—they professionally dismantle it and prevent acid leakage. Some residential areas even have battery recycling bins, which are better than throwing them in regular trash bins.

[LauraAnn]

My family member often leaves old car batteries on the balcony, saying they'll sell them as scrap. Actually, this is extremely dangerous! Summer heat can cause batteries to swell and crack, leaking acid everywhere. Auto parts markets have dedicated stalls that buy used batteries - a 12V battery can fetch 30-80 yuan. Remember to wrap the battery terminals with plastic sheeting to prevent short circuits and fires. The safest approach is to hand them over to licensed recyclers - you earn money while protecting the environment.