How To Jump-start Your Car's Dead Battery

HOW TO JUMP-START A DEAD BATTERY

There's nothing worse than being stranded on the road, unable to get your car going because the battery is dead. There are things to keep in mind however, that can help you get out of a situation like this quickly.

Before getting into jump-starting your car battery, let's have a quick look at the signs of a dead battery.

1. If your headlights seem to be dimmer than usual, it's a clear sign that your battery is about to give out.
2. Unusual clicking while turning the car on is another key sign. Your car battery sends a current to the initiation when to turn your key. If your battery is dead or dying, you will hear a clicking sound instead of your car coming to life immediately.
3. If your car doesn't seem to come on without giving it some gas, that's another clear sign. A battery in good condition should be able to start your car without you needing to press the pedal.
4. Backfiring is another thing to look out for. A dead or dying battery leads to fuel accumulation in the cylinders. Causing backfires when you try to switch the car on.
5. If your car seems to be taking much longer than usual to get the ignition going, chances are that it's not your car, it's your battery.

Now, just because your battery is dead doesn't mean you can't jump-start it back to life. What you need is another car with a fully functional battery and jumper cables.

Here are the steps to follow to get your battery going again.

1. Park both cars facing each other and close enough for the jumper cables to reach from one car to the other.
2. Turn the ignition off on both cars.
3. Connect the positive cable to positive terminals on both batteries.
4. Connect the negative cable to the negative node of the functioning battery.
5. Connect the other end of the negative cable to the ground on the dead battery. Perhaps the engine block or any other metal surface on the car.
6. Start the car with the working battery first, then the one with the dead battery.
7. If the car with the dead battery doesn’t start, tighten the connections, and try again.
8. Once your car comes back to life, let it run for at least 20 minutes for the battery to regain charge.
9. Have your local mechanic give your battery a thorough inspection to ensure no problems in the future.