Shut the car’s doors (mostly to keep the overhead light off) Turn off all accessories; this includes the heater/blower, radio and lights.
If you put the key in the ignition, turn it, and check if the dashboard lights up. If you do, there is at least some charge in the battery–a good sign. If there is no sound, (no start-up motor noise or no ticking) with turning the key and no lights on the dash, you most likely have a completely dead battery. Stop and get help in jumping the battery. No amount of starting will start the car unless the battery issue is resolved. Turn the key and try to start the engine. Hopefully, it will start up with or without some hesitation. [2] X Expert Source Audra FordinCertified Automotive Technician Expert Interview. 13 January 2022. Hesitation is fine–it does not hurt the engine. If there is a ticking but with no engine turnover there may not be quite enough battery power to start the ignition. Stop at this point, because the battery is too drained to start properly. If the engine fails to crank, wait a couple of minutes and try again. Sometimes this will allow some residual charge to build in the battery, and possibly enough to start the engine.
If the car is coming close to starting, but seems sluggish, give it a break and try again. If the battery won’t make any effort to turn the engine over, it is discharged and you’re going to need to jump it. If after trying many times the starter is still sluggish, you may need to heat up the battery. You can do this by removing it and bringing it inside, but be aware you may have a fault indication for a while after it is reinstalled. You will not harm the vehicle by removing the battery. From very cold weather, it may take up to 2 hours to warm the battery sufficiently to increase its available amperage.
If you do not have the owner’s manual for your car, you can order one from a car dealer, find one at a salvage yard or look for one at an auto parts chain. You can also find many owner’s manuals online. Try typing in “car owner manual” into a reputable search engine and look for relevant results.
An easy way to remember how to hook up the jumper cables is to remember “red-dead, red-alive. " Hook up the red clamp to the red post on the dead battery, then the red clamp to the red post on the running car, and then do the opposite for the black clamps. The black post to the “alive” car and lastly the black clamp to the “dead” car. Please note that the black clamp on the “dead” car must be connected either an unpainted engine bolt or the mounting bracket of the alternator, not the battery terminal itself. This is to avoid a short circuit.
An easy way to remember how to hook up the jumper cables is to remember “red-dead, red-alive. " Hook up the red clamp to the red post on the dead battery, then the red clamp to the red post on the running car, and then do the opposite for the black clamps. The black post to the “alive” car and lastly the black clamp to the “dead” car. Please note that the black clamp on the “dead” car must be connected either an unpainted engine bolt or the mounting bracket of the alternator, not the battery terminal itself. This is to avoid a short circuit.
An easy way to remember how to hook up the jumper cables is to remember “red-dead, red-alive. " Hook up the red clamp to the red post on the dead battery, then the red clamp to the red post on the running car, and then do the opposite for the black clamps. The black post to the “alive” car and lastly the black clamp to the “dead” car. Please note that the black clamp on the “dead” car must be connected either an unpainted engine bolt or the mounting bracket of the alternator, not the battery terminal itself. This is to avoid a short circuit.
An easy way to remember how to hook up the jumper cables is to remember “red-dead, red-alive. " Hook up the red clamp to the red post on the dead battery, then the red clamp to the red post on the running car, and then do the opposite for the black clamps. The black post to the “alive” car and lastly the black clamp to the “dead” car. Please note that the black clamp on the “dead” car must be connected either an unpainted engine bolt or the mounting bracket of the alternator, not the battery terminal itself. This is to avoid a short circuit.
An easy way to remember how to hook up the jumper cables is to remember “red-dead, red-alive. " Hook up the red clamp to the red post on the dead battery, then the red clamp to the red post on the running car, and then do the opposite for the black clamps. The black post to the “alive” car and lastly the black clamp to the “dead” car. Please note that the black clamp on the “dead” car must be connected either an unpainted engine bolt or the mounting bracket of the alternator, not the battery terminal itself. This is to avoid a short circuit.
If you’re changing your car battery yourself, ensure your vehicle is turned off and in park, with the emergency brake set. Always wear gloves and safety glasses when changing the battery of a car, as car batteries contain potentially hazardous acids and gases, which can be released if the battery is mishandled. You should also make sure that your car battery is recycled using the correct procedures, you can do this by bringing your used battery to a local recycling center, or to certain repair shops.
A battery wrap or blanket is usually a fixed installation of insulation and heating element around the battery. They require about an hour to sufficiently warm the battery.
Add dry gas to your petrol or gas fill-up before filling the tank (if possible) to ensure it mixes completely in the tank.
If you live in a place with heavy snowfall, consider putting snow tires on your car, or purchasing a set of chains to use in bad weather. Check your local laws on the use of chains however, as they are illegal in some regions due to the risk of damage to the road surface.
Check the battery cables and clamps for fraying or corrosion. If there’s a white, powdery substance around the clamps, that’s corrosion from battery acid. You can clean it off easily with baking soda, water and a toothbrush. Your battery contains a liquid electrolyte, which can evaporate and spill so make sure it has enough inside. Most batteries have caps on top, and you can check the level by removing the caps. If it’s low, fill the holes with distilled water, being careful not to fill past any fill level indicator or the bottom of the cap. [12] X Research source
