There’s nothing worse than being in a rush to get somewhere only to find that your car won’t start. Turn the ignition only to be greeted with silence or a mere click sound. Once you pop your hood and do some inspecting, you realize your car battery is dead. If you don’t have a portable jump starter, you’ll need to rely on the help of another driver to get your vehicle back on the road. Below is a list of simple, helpful instructions to jump-start your car to keep you prepared. Before you learn how to jump your battery, it’s essential to understand what causes your battery to die in the first place:
• The Battery is Old.
Depending on driving habits, a car battery typically lasts about five years. If the car battery is frequently dying, jump-starting it may only be a temporary solution. The car battery will need to be replaced.
• Too Many Short Driving Trips.
Longer road trips allow the alternator to recharge the battery. Short driving trips do not give the alternator enough time to power the battery adequately.
• The Battery Wires are Loose or Corroded.
Over time the battery’s wires can become knocked loose. Loose wires may be easily fixed and adequately replaced. The battery terminals can also become corroded, leading to drive being stalled. Corroded wires could even cause significant damage to the electrical components.
• A Light was Left On.
With older vehicles, if a light is left on, it could’ve drained the car battery. In the case of a drained battery, a jump start will help revive your vehicle.
There are several reasons a car battery can become drained, and this list isn’t all-encompassing. If the battery is dying continuously, it’s best to have an expert inspect to identify the exact issue. If you’ve experienced a random dead battery, the below instructions can make jump-starting your vehicle less stressful.
1. Once you’ve found a driver willing to help, make sure their vehicle is parked as close as possible. The hoods of each car should be angled close. Keep both vehicles park and turned off.
2. Pop open both hoods of each vehicle and attach a red clip on the jumper cable of the dead battery to the positive terminal of the working battery.
3. Attach the other red jumper cable clip to the positive terminal of the dead car battery.
4. Depending on the jumper cables, there may be a third black cable that’s paired with the 2nd red cable. This third cable should be attached to the negative terminal of the dead battery.
5. The last black cable paired with the 1st red clip should be clipped with the unpainted metal surface away from the working vehicle’s battery area.
6. Turn on the ignition of the working vehicle and let it run for a few minutes. After several minutes, try turning on the ignition of the dead car. If the car doesn’t start, stop, and check that the cables are correctly connected.
Once the vehicle has been revived, remove the cables in the reversed order. Do not turn off the car, drive for 15 to 20 minutes to completely recharge and stabilize the battery.
If your vehicle is continuously stalling, don’t hesitate to reach out to German Car Depot. Our automotive specialist would be happy to perform a comprehensive inspection of the battery, starter, alternator, and electrical system.