What to Do When a Car Completely Loses Power and Won't Start?

[SanKylie]

Solutions for a car that won't start due to a dead battery: 1. Push-starting. This method only applies to manual transmission cars, preferably when the battery still has some charge left and the terrain is suitable. Otherwise, it can be difficult to implement, especially on an uphill slope. First, engage first gear, press the clutch, turn the key to the ACC position, and have someone push the car from behind. When the car gains enough speed, release the clutch, and the car may start successfully due to inertia. 2. Jump-starting. If you don't have an emergency jump starter (which few car owners carry), you can ask for help from nearby car owners to jump-start your car. You will need two jumper cables. Bring the two cars as close together as possible. Generally, car batteries are located under the front hood, so adjust the cars' positions accordingly—either side by side or head to head. Then, locate the batteries of both cars, identify the positive and negative terminals, and remove the terminal covers. Use the red jumper cable's clamp to attach to the positive terminal. Similarly, connect the red cable first, followed by the black one. Once all four terminals are connected, the jump-start setup is complete.

[VonLydia]

Last time my car suddenly wouldn't start, the dashboard was completely dark - so frustrating! First check if the doors can open/close normally, some cars automatically lock when power is cut. Borrowing a jump starter from a nearby repair shop is the easiest solution. Remember to connect the red clamp to the battery positive terminal (+) and the black clamp to any metal frame of the car body. Don't connect directly to the negative terminal! If the battery is completely dead, calling your insurance for a tow truck is safer. After jump-starting mine, I drove for half an hour but it died again the next day - ended up spending 500 yuan on a new battery. Always remember to turn off interior lights and dash cams when parking!

[DiChase]

I remember when I drove a taxi, the old Santana always had battery issues in winter. First, check the dashboard lights - if they're completely dark, it's likely a battery failure; if they flicker twice, it might be a generator problem. For jump-starting, choose thick copper-core cables, ensure both cars are turned off during connection, connect positive to positive without touching the car body, and attach the negative to the donor car's negative terminal. After starting, don't turn off immediately - drive for half an hour to recharge. Once I helped a passenger jump-start and found his battery was leaking - in such cases, replacement is mandatory. I recommend replacing batteries older than three years in advance, especially for friends in northern regions.

[VanEmilio]

Last month, my Tesla Model 3 also had a dead battery and couldn't start, with the mobile app unable to connect. Using an emergency power pack shaped like a power bank and clamping it to the positive and negative terminals, it only took ten minutes to start the car. I noticed that Tesla's small battery is located under the trunk, which is different from traditional cars. For conventional gasoline cars, when jump-starting with a neighbor's vehicle, make sure the two cars don't come into contact. While charging, pressing the accelerator slightly to maintain 1500 rpm can speed up the charging process. A reminder to car enthusiasts who have modified their audio systems: high-power equipment significantly drains the battery's lifespan!