While the useful life of a car battery ends in three to five years, there are things that may drain it before its time. Starting a car on a weak battery may take multiple attempts – but if the battery is dead or flat, the car might not start at all. This usually calls for a recharge, or a replacement in case it’s past its expiration date. However, you might not always have the time to get the battery fixed immediately. That’s when you can jumpstart the car and reach your destination.
This guide expalins how to jumpstart your car without hassle. However, battery issues don’t always mean dead or flat battery. Sometimes it can just be a loose connection or buildup. We will also take a look at such factors that might keep the battery from doing its job.
Jumpstart Your Car
You can simply use another car to jumpstart your car’s battery. There are only two things that you need for this purpose – a car with a working battery and a jumper cable. It’s a good practice to keep these cables in your car at all times.
The process is quite easy and straightforward:
- Both the cars need to be in neutral or park, with the handbrakes on.
- Locate the car battery, more likely to be in the front or trunk depending on the model.
- Take out the jumper cable and connect its red cable to your battery’s positive (+) terminal, and the other side to the positive (+) terminal of the other car’s battery.
- Connect the black jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal of the second car’s battery. Then attach the other end of this cable to the metal surface of your car away from the battery. You can also connect this cable to your battery’s negative (-) terminal if you do not find any suitable position.
- Start your car and leave it for 1-2 minutes.
- If your car is working fine, remove the jumper cables. Start with the negative cable from either car first and then move on to other connections.
Other Reason Your Car isn’t Starting
If the aforementioned method doesn’t work, this indicates that the battery isn’t exactly dead and there might be an underlying issue preventing it from doing its job. Here are a few other things you can check and fix.
Loose Battery Terminals
Sometimes loose connections between the wires also make it difficult for the car engine to start properly. You can tap battery terminals to fix any connection issues, and then try starting your car again. Corroded terminals are also responsible for the bad connection between the battery cables and terminals. You can use acidic solutions available in the market to clean these terminals.
Disturbed Electrical Connection
A car’s battery can also stop working because of a disturbed electrical connection inside the neutral safety key. To deal with this situation, put your car in neutral and then try restarting the engine. If your car is able to start again, you’re good to go. Otherwise, contact an auto electrician for a detailed inspection to avoid further damage.
What else can I do to start my car?
Still can’t figure out the problem? Don’t panic. Here are some methods you can try to get back on the road.
Roll Start
If you are driving a manual car, you can start your engine with this method, given that you can find a few people to lend a hand:
- Put your car into second gear and press the clutch.
- Push the car forward enough to create as much momentum as possible.
- Turn the key in your ignition while slowly releasing the clutch.
Call for Professional Help
Even after trying everything, if you are unable to start your car or you do not feel comfortable dealing with a flat battery yourself, it is time to call for professional help. They are experts in finding out the actual fault and will take appropriate action. They will either fix the existing battery or will recommend installing a new battery.
Find Out the Reason
If the battery is dead, you will keep facing the issue every time you start your car. If the battery keeps discharging too quickly, you need to find out the cause. Some of the major causes for a dying battery are:
- Electronic devices or lights are switched on for a longer time
- The car alternator is not working fine
- There are loose or corroded battery cables
- Battery maintenance is lacking
Replace Your Battery
You can also recharge you dead car battery through a trickle charger. However, it is recommended to replace a car’s battery after 4 to 6 years for the smooth functioning of your car. If your battery is past this period and is giving you a difficult time, you should consider replacing it. Even if you recharge an overused battery, you will have to recharge or jumpstart it again and again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my car battery draining?
Figuring out why the car battery is draining can be tricky. Faulty charging, extreme temperature, defective alternator, excessive short drives, loose battery cables, old batteries are some of the many reasons your battery can drain your battery. You will need the help of a qualified mechanic to find out the exact cause.
Can I recharge a dead battery?
Yes, you can recharge a dead car battery with a battery charger, a long drive, or with another car’s battery. Read this guide to understand how to restart a car after months of sitting idly.
When should I replace my car battery?
The battery’s lifespan depends on many factors, such as the driving frequency, charging system, temperature and weather conditions, etc. On average, a car battery lasts three to five years.
If you feel your car also needs to be replaced by one with a more efficient battery or a hybrid car that charges itself, browse through our list of used cars for sale in Dubai.
That concludes the guide on how to deal with a dead car battery. Always get your car checked thoroughly once it jumpstarts or recharges to rule out any underlying issues that are causing the battery to discharge.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog for more information on cars and car parts.
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