What to do if your car battery is dead
Here’s what to do if your car battery is dead.
Problem solved, USA TODAY
- Install jumper cable clasps only in the correct position on the guide.
- Be careful in choosing the grounding metal to which you attach the clasp.
Turning the key and turning on the ignition only to realize that your car’s battery is dead is a frustrating experience that most people experience at some point. According to Firestone Complete Auto Care, this can occur if your headlights are left on, in extreme outdoor weather, or if your car battery needs a simple replacement.
Jumping a car can be a daunting task, but with the necessary and recommended equipment and an extra car ready to jump a dead battery, you’ll be back on the highway in no time.
how to jump a car
Geico provides a list of the equipment you need to jump your car. You’ll need jumper cables to jump into the car, gloves and coveralls for protection, a flashlight to identify the correct parts of the car, and an instruction manual. You will also need another car with a charged battery.
Home Depot advises drivers to follow these steps:
- Park a vehicle with a full battery next to a vehicle with a dead battery, or bumper to bumper. Make sure your vehicle is close enough to connect the jumper cables. They shouldn’t be touched.
- Turn off the engines of both cars and remove the keys from the ignition.
- Open both front hoods.
- Locate the car batteries under the hood of both cars.
- Locate the “two metal terminals” on both batteries. The positive terminal has a plus (+) sign and a red wire. The negative terminal has a minus (-) symbol and a black wire.
- Separate the jumper cables and make sure neither end touches the other during the process.
- Connect the red clamp to the metal post on the positive (+) terminal of your dead car battery. Make sure the clamp is fully connected to the metal and will not fall off. Do this for all clamps.
- Connect the other red clamp to the metal post on the positive (+) terminal of the charged car battery.
- Connect the matching black clamp to the metal post on the negative (-) terminal of a charged car battery.
- Connect the last black clamp to the “ground metal piece” of the dead car. Do not install it on a broken car battery. A potential safety hazard may result. Some vehicles have a piece of metal that serves as a grounding spot. Check your owner’s manual to see if this applies to your car.
- Once all clamps are fully connected, start the vehicle with a charged battery and run for a few minutes.
- Start the car with a dead battery. This may take a little longer than usual, so keep turning the key until the engine starts completely.
- Now you need to remove all cables. Leave both cars running.
- Remove the previously failed car’s black clamp from its location on the grounded metal piece. Place it on the ground, making sure not to touch anything under the hood.
- Remove the red clamp from the positive (+) terminal of the previously failed car. Place the other removed clamp on the ground in the same way without touching it.
- Perform the same steps on the vehicle clamp that was used to charge the dead vehicle.
- Store the clamp safely.
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