Dealing with a dead car battery can be an incredibly frustrating experience. Trying to jumpstart the vehicle might seem daunting, but you can do the job quickly and safely with the right preparation and supplies. We’ll cover the essential steps to take when your car’s battery dies to guide you through the process.
Get Jumper Cables
Getting jumper cables is the first step to jumpstarting your car’s battery. You can purchase this car essential in many places, including hardware stores, auto parts stores, and online retailers. When purchasing jumper cables, picking up a pair with heavy-duty clamps and thick insulated copper wires is important for ensuring maximum conductivity. Additionally, make sure the cable is long enough to reach from one car battery to another without being stretched too tight or having any slack in between.
Prepare the Vehicles
Once you have the necessary tools and supplies to jumpstart your car, it’s time to prepare the vehicles. Start by parking both vehicles nose-to-nose with about 18 inches of space between them. Make sure that both cars are in Park or Neutral, and turn off all electrical components such as air conditioning, interior lights, and radios in both vehicles. Turning off any auxiliary power sources, such as cell phone chargers and other electronic devices, is important before attempting a jump start.
Connect the Cables
Start by attaching one red clamp (positive) to the positive terminal post of your dead vehicle’s battery. Make sure it is secure. Next, connect the second red clamp to the other vehicle’s positive terminal. Then, connect the black clamp to the negative terminal post of the other vehicle (not the dead car). Finally, connect the other black clamp to a piece of unpainted metal (such as a bolt) in the car with the dead battery. Make sure the bolt or metal piece you choose is not too close to the battery.
Start the Car
Now you will want to start the engine of the car without a dead battery first and let it run for a minute or two. Afterward, you can try starting the car with the dead battery. If you successfully start the engine, you will want to let it run before disconnecting the cables. However, you may need to contact a towing company or an auto shop for assistance if you are unsuccessful. It’s helpful to learn the signs that your car battery is dying so that you can avoid this issue in the future.
Remove the Cables
Once the vehicles have been running for at least 15 minutes and you are confident that your car’s battery has a charge, it is time to remove the jumper cables. To do this safely, start by disconnecting the clamps in the reverse order you connected them the first time. Take extra precautions to ensure the clamps don’t touch during this process or come into contact with any metal objects.
Now that you know what to do when your car battery dies, you can jumpstart your vehicle successfully. Make sure to take all the proper safety precautions to avoid mistakes or injuries.
