If your car doesn't start, the first thing to do is check to see if you have a dead battery.
Can you turn on the lights or the radio? If you can't turn on the lights or radio. there is a good possibility you have a dead battery.
Does your car make a clicking sound when you try to start it? If it makes a clicking sound, there is a good possibility you have a dead battery.
So ... You have a dead battery. Now what?
You can try to jumpstart your car.
Recommendations before jump start your car.
Open the hood of your car. Look for the battery. Look for the positive terminal and the negative terminal. Are wires solidly attached to both the positive terminal and the negative terminal?
Is your car's battery leaking acid?
Leaking acid shows up as a liquid or residue along the top or side of the battery, possibly creating a fire hazard. If a battery is leaking, don't attempt to jump-start a car.
Is it bad for your battery if you jump-start a car?
Generally, it is not bad for your battery to jump-start a car.
It is a simple process: all you need is another car with a working battery and some jumper cables. If done incorrectly, it can damage your battery or other parts of your car.
Is it true that jumping a car drains your battery?
Jumpstarting a vehicle does not cause car batteries to go bad.
How to jump-start your car.
Find a car with a good battery.
When you jump start a car, park the two vehicles close together so that the batteries and engines are close to one another. Usually front end to front end is best as opposed to next to each other. Put on the parking brakes. If you are not able to get the cars close enough you will need longer cables.
Leave the engine running on the car with the good battery.
If you jump-start a car with a manual transmission, be sure to put the car in neutral. Take out your jumper cables. You will note the cables are red and black. The red cable is the positive cable, and the black cable is the negative cable.
Pop the hood.
Locate the battery and brush away any buildup or corrosion around the nodes or terminals
(Picture of battery with an arrow pointing to the nodes or terminals)
Batteries have two terminals. They have a positive terminal that is marked with (+) and a negative terminal marked with a (-).
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONNECT THE CABLES IN A SPECIFIC ORDER!
You may see some sparking when connecting cables. That is usually no big deal.
Below is a super simple step-by-step guide.
Remove the red cover on the positive terminals.
Connect the red cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
Connect the other end of the red cable to the POSITIVE terminal of the working battery.
Connect the black cable to the NEGATIVE terminal of the dead battery.
Connect the other end of the black cable clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the car that is being jump-started (yours). The engine block or a non-painted metal surface will work.
Double-check to make sure the cables are correctly attached to the battery terminals.
If you feel unsure or unsafe at any point, seek professional assistance rather than compromise your safety.
Once the jumper cables are securely connected to the battery terminals ... leave things connected for a few minutes. Make sure the engine is running on the car with the good battery. Sometimes it helps to slightly race the engine of the working car.
Make sure the ignition is off on the car with the bad battery.
After a few minutes of the working car charging your battery with your engine off, you need to get in your driver's seat and try to start your car.
If it starts, disconnect the cables in the reverse order that you attached them,
First, disconnect the negative cable from the dead car battery terminal.
Second, disconnect the negative cable from the unpainted metal surface.
Third, disconnect the positive cable from your battery terminal.
Fourth, disconnect the positive cable from the good car's battery terminal.
If your car doesn't start, there is a possibility that you do not have a good battery.
In this case, you have a dead vehicle and need to call a tow truck.
Other jump-start options
Battery Pack
A portable jump starter battery pack with cables that can be used to jump-start your car. It is an alternative to the traditional jump starting. Because every device is different, be sure to carefully follow the owner's manual included.
Towing
The final option is to seek professional assistance.
How long does it take to jump a car?
The process usually takes 10-20 minutes to jump most batteries. In extreme cases, it could take 30 minutes.
You must drive your car or at least keep it running for 30 minutes to fully recharge it after a jumpstart.
Plus, I would have your vehicle checked by a professional to ensure it is operating properly.
If you have jumper cables connected to a car with a good battery and your car does not start after five minutes, you probably have a bad battery.
In this case, you probably will need a new one. Note: It is important to dispose of an old battery properly. Municipalities often will take dead batteries and properly dispose of them.
Jumper Cables
Jumper cables are electrical wires that are used to recharge a dead car battery.
Recharging a car's dead battery involves making a connection from a dead battery to a good one.
Sometimes they are also referred to as a jump lead or a booster cables. They are usually made of copper or another type of metal that conducts electricity well. They typically have alligator clamps on each end. It is important to ensure that the cables you use are not rusted, frayed, or damaged
Is there a maximum voltage for jumper cables?
Most jumper cables can handle a maximum of 12 volts.
There are larger cables available.
It is important to check the following before using any kind of jumper cables.
Look at your battery. What size is it?
Try to find your car manual. Do they have any recommendations for jumpstarting a car.
Look at your jumper cables. Are they labeled with their capacity?
In general, it is best to use jumper cables with the same voltage capacity as the batteries being used. This will help avoid damaging your battery or your car.
Why your car battery might be dead, and how to prevent it?
Car batteries provide the jolt of electricity required to start your engine and power all of your vehicle's electrical components.
Your car won't start without battery power.
A dead car battery is inconvenient, but it is also avoidable. To prevent a problem, you must first understand what causes it. But first, let's take a look at some reasons your car may not start.
Reasons your car may not start
Check the alternator
Many drivers ignore the fact that the alternator is in charge of distributing electricity to your car. It also helps to recharge your battery. If your car does not start correctly, it could be an alternator problem.
Can you now jump-start your car with a faulty alternator?
Maybe. When an alternator fails, it may be possible to jump-start a car as long as the battery provides enough power to keep it running. However, the battery will quickly die if the alternator is malfunctioning.
Out-of-gas
There are multiple reasons your vehicle may not start. Did you check your gas tank? You may be out of gas. If you are out of gas, you will not be able to start your vehicle. In this case, you may mistakenly think you have a dead battery. Or perhaps you have a bad starter.
Don't leave the headlights on or the internal lights
If your car battery continues to drain, the first thing to check are your headlights and interior lights.
On many of the newer cars, the interior lights stay on for a minute or two when you open the door, and the engine is off. They shut off automatically unless you move the switch to keep them on.
Many newer vehicles have automatic headlights that turn off after a certain amount of time. However, if your car lacks this feature, your headlights may remain on until you turn them off or your car battery is completely depleted.
Even when your car is turned off, your battery powers things like the clock, radio, and alarm system. These factors should not have a significant impact on your battery.
Temperatures
Because your car relies on a combination of liquids, gases, and electrical currents, extreme temperatures can significantly impact its performance. Cold winter and hot summer days can cause issues with your vehicle's battery.
More recent batteries are more resistant to extreme seasonal temperatures. However, if your battery is older, extreme cold or heat may degrade its performance or even cause it to fail completely!
Be careful with too many short drives
It takes electrical energy to start and run your car. The most energy is expended when you start it. When you drive your car, it takes the alternator about 30 minutes to recharge the battery.
Invest in a Trickle Charger
You risk draining your battery if you park your car for long periods of time without starting it. To maintain a working vehicle and a live battery, you can invest in a "Trickle Charger."
A trickle charger plugs into a 110volt electric outlet and connects to your car battery. It helps to keep things fully charged. If you invest in a "Smart Trickle Charger," you can leave it on for days or weeks at a time. You want to be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions.
Inspection and battery test
Car owners often forget to inspect their car batteries.
Inspect your battery at least once every six months to ensure that it is in good working order and ready to use.
To check your battery, remove the cap and check the fluid levels. If the fluids are low, you can add a little water. The fluids in a car battery are called electrolytes. The electrolytes are usually a combination of sulfuric acid and water.
How long do car batteries last?
To a degree, it really depends upon you. If properly maintained, a healthy battery should last five to seven years. It is always good to carry a jumper cable with you in case of an emergency. Having access to jumper cables can save a tremendous amount of time and frustration.