How to Charge a Cold Car Battery

1. Remove the drained battery from your vehicle. You'll need to use the correct size wrenches to loosen the terminals and remove any shields or brackets that are holding the battery in place.
2. Place the battery in a well-ventilated environment where the battery can slowly warm above freezing. Do not place the battery near open fire or heat. Remember, you'll have to use your battery charger, so a nearby electrical outlet and/or extension cord will be necessary.
3. Check the battery for physical damage after you've allowed it warm up. If it's a standard-duty battery, remove the caps and check the water level. Add distilled water if necessary; just enough to fill the bottom of the refill holes. Once you've made sure the battery is full of water and is undamaged, you can proceed with recharging it.
4. Check your battery charger to make sure all switches are off. You can also check to make sure it is set to 12 volts. Then hook the positive clamp of the charger to the positive post on your drained battery. Hook the negative clamp to the negative post in the same manner.
5. Plug your battery charger into a nearby electrical outlet, using an extension cord if necessary.
6. Adjust the settings on your battery charger, if any. Some chargers allow you to set the amp-rate at which the battery charges. The higher the amps, the faster your drained battery will recharge. Some chargers also have a timer. Set the charger according to your wishes and turn the power on. Charging times will vary, so check on the battery often.
7. Unplug the charger once the battery has a complete charge. Turn the switch off and unhook the negative clamp, then the positive clamp.
8. Place the battery back into your vehicle, making sure you fasten the terminals securely to the battery posts. Replace all shields and brackets and start your vehicle.