Maybe you accidentally left the lights on in your car. Maybe you got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the beach with the air condition on and your vehicle endured a sweltering hot summer heat wearing down the battery.
Car batteries die for a variety of reasons including loose or corroded battery connections, persistent electrical drains, charging problems, constantly demanding more power than the alternator can provide, old age and even extreme weather. Remember that even leaving electronics like GPS or cell phones plugged into a car charger can drain the battery, too.
On average, a new car battery lasts about five years in ideal conditions, though your mileage may vary. By ideal conditions, meaning that the car’s electrical system is in tip-top shape, that the battery regularly goes through full charging cycles, and that it’s not subjected to extreme temperatures on a regular basis.
Failing batteries usually display a series of obvious symptoms that let you know it’s on its way out. Slow cranking on startup indicates that the battery may not be able to provide enough power to fire up the engine, and an illuminated Battery Warning Light on the dashboard is a clear indicator it needs attention. If vehicle electronics like remote locks or interior lights randomly stop working, a dying or dead battery might be the cause.
Of course after the fact it all seems so obvious and we have all had it happen , the battery is dead and the car will not start and typically you face one of three scenarios , the first course will be to jump-start the vehicle to charge the battery. It’s important of course to keep a good set of jumper cables in your car. Otherwise, you’ll have to call for roadside assistance or hope you can find a good samaritan who has cables you can use.
Ideally you have jumper cables , can get a jump and the battery holds the charge . If the jump works and your car starts, don’t shut off your engine! Drive around for at least 15 minutes to recharge your battery.
Jump starting a car is not something everyone learns how to do. Having the right emergency equipment is a great start. You also have to know how to use it. So, here is what you need to know about how to jump a car. A few simple steps and you are on your way.
Car batteries have two metal terminals. The positive terminal will be marked with a plus sign (+) and the negative terminal will be marked with a minus sign (-). If there is no symbol indicator, the positive terminal will be connected with a red cable and the negative terminal will be connected with a black cable.
Once the cables are connected, start the vehicle with the charged battery and let it run for a couple minutes.Then go to the car with the dead battery and turn the key until the engine fully starts. This may take a few moments while the dead battery pulls energy from the other vehicle.
Sometimes, it may start but not hold the charge, and that requires that you jump-start it each time in order to get the car running. If the car won’t start the next time you use it, the battery isn’t holding a charge and needs to be replaced.
Or worst case if your car does not start by jump-starting, you may have a problem with your starter, alternator or another component of the electrical system.
Car batteries differ in multiple ways to work with different vehicle’s specifications, and they are generally year, make, model-specific.Make sure you get the right size and terminal locations (or type) for your vehicle. Check your owner’s manual or an in-store fit guide before shopping.
I bought a lithium jump pack that’s small and works great. I keep it in the car just in case