What to Do When a Car Battery Dies and the Car Won't Start?
2 Answers
Here are the solutions for when a car battery dies and the car won't start: 1. Push-start the car: This method can only be used for manual transmission cars. Never use this method for automatic transmission cars, as it can cause damage to both the engine and the clutch. 2. Use jumper cables: This requires two cars connected with jumper cables to charge the dead battery. Be careful not to reverse the positive and negative terminals, and ensure the two cars do not touch each other—only use dedicated jumper cables. 3. Use a car battery charger: There are now portable chargers specifically designed for car batteries. If you're worried about encountering this situation, you can keep such a charger in your car. 4. Call for roadside assistance: There are now some roadside assistance services, often organized by car owners themselves, that can help when your car has this issue. Alternatively, you can directly call for a tow truck. Most insurance companies offer several free towing services with their policies.
A dead battery is indeed a headache. Every time I help a friend with this issue, I first borrow power from another car to jump-start. Prepare a set of jumper cables, connect the red clamp to the positive terminal of the other car's battery, and the black clamp to the negative terminal or a grounded metal part. Then, have the other car run for a few minutes before attempting to start your own car. Be careful not to reverse the connections, as this can cause a short circuit and damage components. Keep the cables away from the fan and exhaust pipe. If the jump-start is successful, drive around for half an hour to recharge the battery and prevent it from dying again. It's even better to carry a portable jump starter in your car, especially in winter when batteries are prone to aging. Regularly check the battery terminals for oxidation and use sandpaper to clean them for better contact.