Self-driving cars have made driving easier for many people. However, it’s important to know how to overcome some of the mechanical challenges that can arise when operating a self-driving car. For example, you might be wondering how to start a car with a dead battery.
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How to start a car with a dead battery
- Charge the battery using a portable battery charger. Jump start your car battery.
- Replace your car battery.
- Call roadside assistance or a towing company. You can start a manual car with a dead battery, but an automatic car won’t start when you push it.
- However, this article will show you step-by-step how to start a car with a dead battery.
Charge your battery using a portable battery charger
A portable battery charger makes it easy to charge and start your automatic vehicle battery.
Connect the charger to the battery
A cable is provided with the battery charger. The positive terminal should be connected to the positive end of the battery and the negative terminal should be connected to the other end of the battery.
Set up the charger
Choose how you want to power your battery. You can choose to deliver power for a short period or slowly. A slower power delivery will keep your battery charged for longer.
Start up the charger
Once you have set the charge type, get your charger up and running. Most chargers will turn off automatically. Unplug the charger and try starting your car. If your car doesn’t start, you may need to let the battery charge for a little longer. Charge for another 30 minutes and then try starting your car again.
Jump Starter for Car Battery
Most drivers don’t carry a charged battery with them every time they drive. That’s why the most common way to restart an automatic car is to start the battery. To do this, you connect a dead battery to another battery using jumper cables. Since jump starting involves dealing with electricity, you need to follow these steps to safely start your car.
Here are the steps to jump-start an automatic car:
Finding the right jumper cables
Jumper cables are used to transfer energy from a working battery to a dead battery. Your car’s toolbox should always have some high-quality jumper cables. These are electrical cables with alligator clips that connect two batteries.
Find a charged battery
To start a dead battery, you need to find a live battery with the same voltage as the dead battery. You can usually find a live battery in another car. Before connecting the jumper cables, parallel park your running car and turn off the engine.
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Connect the jumper cables to both batteries
Attach one of the red alligator clips to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Attach the other red alligator clip to the positive terminal of the other car’s battery. To identify the negative terminal, look for a minus sign.
The negative terminal may also be marked with an “OV” or “GND” symbol. Then attach the black clip to the unpainted metal strip.
Starting Your Car
Start your car with the battery working and let the engine run for a few minutes. Then try to start the car with an automatic transmission. If your automatic car still won’t start, run your working car a bit more.
Driving Your Car
Once your car is running, drive it for at least a mile to make sure the battery has a sufficient charge. It is important to note that if your battery has reached the end of its life, your car may not start even if you jump-start it. This is an indication that you need a new battery.
Replace your car battery
If charging your battery and jump-starting it doesn’t work, you will probably need to replace the battery. Replacing a battery is a fairly technical job. Therefore, you will need some knowledge about maintaining this kind of car. If you’re unsure, take your car to a repair shop rather than risk doing something wrong.
To replace the battery, follow these steps:
Wear thick gloves
These will prevent electric shock if you touch exposed cables. The replacement battery should be the same size and voltage as the old battery.
Turn off the car engine
Disconnect the old battery from the battery terminals and remove it. Clean the inside of the battery compartment by wiping it with a clean cloth. Insert the new battery into the compartment, keeping it upright at all times. Reinstall the battery holder and secure it in place.
Connect the battery terminal cables to the battery, matching the positive and negative cables to the positive and negative terminals on the battery. Start your car and drive it for at least 15 minutes to make sure your new battery is working properly.
Signs that your battery needs replacing include:
- Your car won’t start.
- Your car’s lights are dim, even at full power.
- There’s a constant gasoline smell in your car.
- Your battery is leaking or dead.
- If the battery casing looks worn.
- Even if your battery shows no signs of wear, it should still be replaced if it’s more than 5 years old.
Call roadside assistance or a towing company
If you don’t have the right equipment on hand or you have difficulty starting your car using the methods above, you may need to call roadside assistance, who can help you in a variety of ways:
- We can tow your car.
- If necessary, we can tow it to a repair shop to find a replacement battery.
- We can examine your car.
- We may find that a dead battery isn’t the cause of the problem.
- We can provide you with a jump start or charge your battery with a portable battery charger.
Remember that roadside assistance isn’t cheap. Some manufacturers offer one or two years of free roadside assistance as part of their car warranty, but you’re unlikely to need to take advantage of this if your car is new. To cut down on these potential costs later, look for car insurance that includes roadside assistance in its insurance plan.
Can I push start a car with an automatic transmission?
Automatic cars cannot be pushed and started like manual cars. This is because an automatic car’s clutch and engine need a working battery to function. If an automatic car’s battery dies, the only way to start the car is to charge it or replace it. Only older models of automatic cars can be pushed.
Some automatic cars from the 1980s and 1990s can be pushed because they have a different mechanism to newer models. In general, automatic cars cannot be pushed and driven.
Battery Chargers and Jumper Cables
Having a battery charger and jumper cables on hand is very useful. Not to mention, these tools will eventually pay for themselves after just one or two uses, saving you from expensive servicing costs. Here are some of the best battery chargers and jumper cables available on Amazon.com.
Schumacher Battery Charger
The Schumacher Battery Charger can be used with a variety of vehicles, including cars and trucks. It has two power modes: a 40 amp quick start and a 200 amp engine start. It also has an automatic voltage detection feature, which ensures that your battery is charged at the correct voltage.
Noco Genius 1 Battery Charger
The Noco Genius 1 Battery Charger is a small device that can be used as a battery charger, battery trickle charger, and trickle charger. It is compatible with a variety of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and even boats.
Hulkman Alpha 85 Battery Charger
The Hulkman Alpha 85 Battery Charger offers fast charging capabilities. It can charge your battery from 0 to 100 in just 1.5 hours. The company also offers a 2-year warranty and unlimited technical support.
Energizer Jumper Cables
Every driver should have a set of jumper cables in their car. We like Energizer’s jumper cables (available on Amazon.com) because they’re versatile, come with a carrying case, and are backed by a two-year warranty.
AmazonBasics Jumper Cables
Another great option you can buy on Amazon is the AmazonBasics Jumper Cables. This is a pocket-friendly cable set that features durable alligator clips and a very flexible cable. They can be used for a variety of vehicles and come in a variety of lengths.
Conclusion
There are several ways teaching how to start a car with a dead battery, including jump starting, charging, and replacing the battery. However, if none of these measures work, or you don’t have the necessary equipment, you’ll need to call roadside assistance.
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