What To Do When Your Car Battery Dies
When your car battery dies, it can be a frustrating and even scary experience. Your car won’t start, all the lights go out, and you may even be stranded on the side of the road. But don’t panic! You can do some simple things to get your car battery back up and running.
What Do I Do When My Car Battery Dies?
1. Get your jumper cables out
Every car should have jumper cables, so grab yours and get ready to jumpstart your car. If you don’t have these cables, you may need to call a friend or a professional service for assistance. If you do have them, follow the next steps to revive your dead car battery.
2. Locate a working car
This should be easy enough to do. If you’re at home, ask a neighbor or friend if you can borrow their car for a quick jump. At work? See if a colleague will let you use theirs. If you’re stuck on the side of the road, any passing motorist should be able to help you out.
3. Connect the positive terminal of each battery
Connect one end of your jumper cable to the positive terminal (indicated by a "+" sign or red color) of your dead battery. Then, do the same thing to the working battery.
4. Connect the negative terminal of the working battery
Now, take the other end of your jumper cable and connect it to the negative terminal (indicated by a "-" sign or black color) of the working battery.
5. Start the engine of the working car
Turn on the ignition of the working car and let it idle for a few minutes. This will give your dead battery enough juice to start up.
6. Start your car
Try starting your car. If it doesn’t work right away, wait a few more minutes and try again. Once your car is running, you can disconnect the jumper cables.
7. Take your car for a drive
The best way to recharge a dead battery is by driving around. This will give your alternator a chance to top off the battery. Just be sure to drive for at least 15-20 minutes to ensure a full charge.
Call a Professional Roadside Service
If you’re still having trouble starting your car, it may be time to call roadside service. They can help you jumpstart your car or even tow it to a nearby garage if necessary.
Preventing a Dead Battery
The best way to deal with a dead battery is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some tips to keep your car battery in tip-top condition:
1. Keep it clean
Be sure to clean off your battery terminals regularly. Over time, they can build up with corrosion, preventing proper electrical contact and causing your battery to die.
2. Check the fluid level
If your car battery is the type that has removable caps, be sure to check the fluid level regularly. If it’s low, add distilled water until it reaches the "full" line.
3. Don’t let it run too low
Avoid letting your car battery run too low on power. This can damage the battery and shorten its lifespan.
4. Keep it charged
If you’re not going to be driving your car for a while (e.g., if it’s stored for the winter), be sure to keep the battery charged. A simple way to do this is to plug it into a trickle charger.
5. Get it tested
Have your car battery regularly tested to ensure it’s in good condition. Most auto shops can do this for free or for a small fee.
What Should You Do If Your Car Battery Is Dead?
Following these tips can help prevent your car battery from dying and keep you from being stranded. But if it does happen, contact M & M Tire & Service Center for all your roadside assistance needs.
Categorised in: Car Battery
This post was written by admin
