Simple ways to jump start your car's dead battery
A problem nearly every car owner will or has faced is a dead or weak battery, and with cars parked for weeks on end thanks to COVID, this is likely to be a bit more common. Apart from not starting a car for a long time, there are other reasons too for a car battery to get depleted, like leaving the headlights on without the engine running, extreme temperatures and even an ageing battery.
Starting a car with a dead battery is quite a simple task, but there is a set procedure in which to do so and certain safety precautions that one must always follow. And do note, if your car battery runs flat often, you need to get the electrical system checked.
To begin starting your car, you will need a good set of jumper cables. Ideally a set should always be kept in your car. Remember to buy a heavy duty set to be safe. A good set may be a bit costly, but it is a good investment.
Jumper cables consist of two thick wires with crocodile clips on both ends. Both wires are colour marked, one is red and the other black, denoting positive and negative, respectively. Next you will need another vehicle to provide the crucial power supply from its battery to the dead car. Once you have the jumper cables and the car with good battery ready, you need to follow the below steps to safely carry out a jump start:
- Park the vehicle with the good battery close to the one with the dead battery, park it in such a way that the jump cables can comfortably reach the two batteries.
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Ensure that the handbrake is engaged on both the vehicles. If the vehicle is a manual, leave the gear lever in neutral position and if it is an automatic, leave it in ‘Park’ position.
