What to do when car battery dies in garage

There’s no worse feeling than getting behind the wheel of your car only to find out that the battery is dead. In many cases, you might be able to jump-start the battery on the spot. But what if the battery dies while the car is parked in your garage? It can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but there are steps you can take to get your car back on the road.

The most common reason for a dead car battery is leaving the headlights or interior lights on, even for just a short period. If you suspect that this is the case, you might be able to jump-start the battery with the help of another car or a portable jump starter. However, if your car battery has been dead for a while, it might be completely drained, and jump-starting it may not be enough.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the steps you can take when your car battery dies in the garage. From troubleshooting the problem to finding a professional to help, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get your car back up and running.

What to Do When Your Car Battery Dies in the Garage

1. Check the Battery

Firstly, it’s important to check the battery and assess if it’s completely dead or if it can be recharged. If you have a battery tester, use it to determine the battery’s voltage. If it’s below 12 volts, then the battery won’t start the car and needs to be recharged or replaced.

2. Jump-Start Your Car

If the battery is dead, then the next course of action is to jump-start your car. You’ll need a set of jumper cables and another car with a fully charged battery. Connect the cables and start the dead car. Let it run for a while to recharge the battery.

3. Recharge the Battery

If you don’t have another car to jump-start your battery, then you can recharge it using a battery charger. Connect the charger to the battery and let it charge for a few hours. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use a charger that is compatible with your battery.

4. Replace the Battery

If the battery is completely dead and cannot be recharged, then it needs to be replaced. You can buy a new battery at an auto parts store and replace it yourself or take your car to a mechanic who can do it for you.

Remember that car batteries have a limited lifespan, so it’s important to check them regularly and replace them when necessary to avoid getting stuck with a dead battery in the garage.

Call for Assistance

1. Contact Your Roadside Assistance Provider

If you have a roadside assistance plan, contact your provider for assistance. They will dispatch a service technician to your location to jumpstart your battery or replace it if necessary. This is often the quickest and safest option.

2. Call a Towing Company

If you don’t have a roadside assistance plan, you can call a towing company for assistance. They will tow your car to a nearby repair shop where a qualified technician can diagnose and fix the issue. Keep in mind that this option may be more expensive than using a roadside assistance plan.

3. Ask a Friend or Family Member for Help

If you have friends or family nearby, you can ask them for help. They may have jumper cables or a portable battery charger that can be used to jumpstart your battery. However, if you are not comfortable with this option or don’t have anyone nearby who can help, it is best to call for professional assistance.

4. Use a Portable Battery Charger

If you have a portable battery charger, you can use it to jumpstart your battery. This option can be convenient if you have experience jumpstarting a car and feel confident doing it yourself. However, if you are not familiar with the process, it is best to seek professional assistance.

5. Stay Safe

No matter which option you choose, it’s important to stay safe while waiting for assistance. If possible, move your car to a safe location away from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights and put out cones or flares to warn other motorists. Stay inside your car with the doors locked until help arrives.

Jump-Start the Battery

Step 1: Locate another vehicle and park it close to your car

You will need another functioning vehicle to jump-start your car battery. Make sure the two cars are parked close to each other, but not touching.

Step 2: Turn off both vehicles’ engines

Make sure that both vehicles are turned off before starting the jump-start process.

Step 3: Connect the jumper cables

• Connect the red positive jumper cable to the positive terminal on the dead battery.
• Connect the other end of the red positive jumper cable to the positive terminal on the fully charged battery in the other vehicle.
• Connect the black negative jumper cable to the negative terminal on the fully charged battery in the other vehicle.
• Connect the other end of the black negative jumper cable to an unpainted metal surface, such as a bolt or bracket, on the engine block of the dead vehicle. Do not connect it to the negative terminal of the dead battery.

Note: Make sure that the jumper cables do not touch each other or any other metal surfaces while they are connected to the batteries.

Step 4: Start the functioning vehicle and let it charge the dead battery

Start the functioning vehicle and let it run for several minutes to charge the dead battery. You can rev the engine slightly to help speed up the charging process.

Step 5: Start the dead vehicle and let it run

Attempt to start the dead vehicle. If it does not start, wait a few more minutes and try again. Once the dead vehicle is running, let it run for a few minutes to fully charge the battery.

Step 6: Disconnect the jumper cables

• Disconnect the black negative jumper cable from the unpainted metal surface on the engine block of the dead vehicle.
• Disconnect the black negative jumper cable from the negative terminal on the fully charged battery in the other vehicle.
• Disconnect the red positive jumper cable from the positive terminal on the fully charged battery in the other vehicle.
• Disconnect the red positive jumper cable from the positive terminal on the dead battery.

Note: Make sure that the jumper cables do not touch each other or any other metal surfaces while they are disconnected from the batteries.

Step 7: Keep the vehicle running

After jump-starting the battery, it is important to keep the vehicle running for a while to ensure that the battery is fully charged. You may also want to take your car to a mechanic to have the battery and charging system checked.