How to start car when battery down

There’s nothing more frustrating than getting into your car and turning the key only to hear a clicking sound or nothing at all. A dead battery can happen to anyone, especially in extreme temperatures, or if you’ve accidentally left your lights on overnight. So, what do you do if your battery has died and you need to get your car started?

First, you need to understand the basics of how a car battery works and what causes it to die. A car battery is a rechargeable, 12-volt battery that powers the electrical system of your car. When you turn the key in the ignition, the battery sends an electrical current to the starter motor, which cranks the engine and gets it running. Over time, a battery can lose its charge due to a variety of factors, including cold weather, age, and excessive use of electronics in the car.

There are several methods you can use to jump-start your car if the battery has died. You can use jumper cables and another car with a good battery, a battery charger, or a portable jump starter. In this article, we’ll walk you through each method step-by-step so that you can get your car started and back on the road.

How to Start a Car with a Dead Battery

Jump Starting the Car

If your car battery is dead and you need to start your car, the easiest way is to jump start it. First, you need a car with a good battery and some jumper cables. Place the two cars close enough so that the jumper cables can reach both batteries. Turn off both cars and hook up the cables to the good battery first- red to positive and black to negative. Then, attach the other end of the cables to the dead battery the same way. Start the car with the good battery and let it run for a few minutes while revving the engine. Then, try to start the car with the dead battery. If it doesn’t start, try revving the car with the good battery again for a little longer.

Push Starting the Car

Another option to start your car with a dead battery is to push start it. This method only works for cars with a manual transmission, no automatics. Here’s how you do it: First, make sure the parking brake is off and the car is in neutral. Find a flat area and get some friends to help push the car. Run with the car and then jump in the driver’s seat while the car is still moving. Push in the clutch, put the car in first gear, and turn the key in the ignition to start the car. If done correctly, the car should start up.

Using a Portable Jump Starter

If you’re stranded and don’t have access to another car to jump start your car, a portable jump starter can be a lifesaver. These small devices have a battery inside that can provide enough power to jump start your car. To use it, connect the portable jump starter to your car battery, turn it on, and try to start your car. These devices typically come with instructions and will tell you when to turn on your car.

Conclusion

If your car battery dies, don’t get stuck. You have a few options to get it started and get back on the road. Jump starting the car, push starting the car, and using a portable jump starter are all possible solutions.

Step 1: Prepare the Jump Cables

Gather the Supplies

To jump start a car with a dead battery, you will need a few things:

• A set of jump cables
• Another car with a working battery
• A safe location to park both cars, where they won’t roll away

Once you have these items, park the two cars so that they’re facing each other. Leave enough space between them so that the cables can reach both batteries.

Attach the Cables

Next, open the hoods of both cars and locate the batteries. It’s important to make sure that both cars are turned off and the keys are out of the ignition.

Connect the red cable to the positive terminal on the dead battery. Make sure to attach the other end of the red cable to the positive terminal on the working car’s battery.

Now, connect the black cable to the negative terminal on the working car’s battery. Make sure to find an unpainted surface on the dead car to attach the other end of the black cable.

Double-check that all of the cables are securely attached before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Connect the Jump Cables

1. Park the vehicles parallel to each other

Ensure the vehicles are parked parallel to each other with a small gap in between, making sure they do not touch or come into contact with each other while jump-starting.

2. Identify the positive and negative terminals of the batteries

Identify the positive and negative terminals of the batteries on both cars. The positive terminal may have a “+” symbol or be colored red. The negative terminal may have a “-” symbol or be colored black.

3. Connect the positive cables

Attach one end of the positive jumper cable (usually red) to the positive terminal of the dead battery and the other end to the positive terminal of the charged battery.

4. Connect the negative cables

Attach one end of the negative jumper cable (usually black) to the negative terminal of the charged battery and the other end to an unpainted metal surface on the engine block, away from the battery of the dead car.

5. Start the engine of the charged car

Start the engine of the charged car and let it run for a few minutes.

6. Start the engine of the dead car

Try starting the engine of the dead car. If it doesn’t start right away, wait a few more minutes and try again. Once the dead car starts, remove the jumper cables in the opposite order you attached them. Remove the negative cable from the metal surface and then from the charged battery. Finally, remove the positive cable from the charged battery and then from the dead battery.

Step 3: Start the Working Vehicle

1. Depress the Gas Pedal

Once you have connected the jumper cables to both vehicles, start the engine of the good vehicle. While the engine is running, depress the gas pedal slightly. This will help create a surge of energy that should be enough to jump-start your vehicle.

2. Wait for a Few Minutes

Allow the good vehicle to run for a few minutes while you wait for the battery to build up a charge. As the charged battery passes energy to your car, it will begin to regain power. Keep an eye on the dashboard of your vehicle. The charging system will let you know when things are going smoothly.

3. Remove the Jumper Cables

Once you start up your car, let it run for a few minutes to ensure that the battery remains charged. Shut off the engine of the good vehicle and remove the jumper cables carefully. Start your own car again and let it run for a few minutes before attempting to drive. This will ensure that your battery doesn’t die again too soon!

Step 4: Start the Dead Vehicle

1. Place Keys in the Ignition

Insert the car keys in the ignition, just like starting any ordinary car. Make sure the gear shift is in park when starting.

2. Turn on the Ignition

Turn the ignition key to the “on” position for 30 seconds to warm up the dead battery. It’s recommended to wait a bit before turning the key to the start position so that the battery can recharge a bit.

3. Start the Car

With the ignition key still in the “on” position, try to start the car. If the car doesn’t start, turn off the ignition for another 30 seconds and try again.

4. Disconnect the Jumper Cables

Once the dead vehicle starts, remove the jumper cables starting with the negative cable from the previously dead battery, followed by the negative cable from the working battery. Then, remove the positive cable from the working battery, followed by the positive cable from the previously dead battery.

5. Let the Car Run

Let the vehicle run for at least 30 minutes to give the battery a chance to recharge fully. Avoid turning off the engine during this time as it may cause the battery to not recharge fully.

Step 5: Disconnect the Jump Cables

1. Turn off both cars

After the battery of your car has been charged, turn off the engine of both cars. It is extremely important to turn off both engines, as an active engine could cause electrical fluctuations when disconnecting the cables, which can damage the electronic systems of your car.

2. Remove negative clamp from the charged battery

With the engine of both cars turned off, remove the negative clamp from the charged battery. This is typically the black clamp that is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.

3. Remove negative clamp from your car’s dead battery

Next, remove the negative clamp from your car’s dead battery. Make sure to be careful not to touch any metal surfaces with the clamps, as this can cause electrical shocks.

4. Remove positive clamp from charged battery

After removing the negative clamps, remove the positive clamp from the charged battery. This is typically the red clamp that is connected to the positive terminal of the battery.

5. Remove positive clamp from your car’s dead battery

Finally, remove the positive clamp from your car’s dead battery. Once all the clamps are removed, you can safely close the hood of both cars and start your vehicle normally.

It is important to note that if your car does not start after being jumped, it may be a sign of a deeper issue with the battery or alternator. It is recommended to take your car to a mechanic for inspection if this is the case.