What to Do When the Car Battery Won't Start?
2 Answers
For manual transmission vehicles, you can push-start the car in gear or charge the battery. Alternatively, you can use jumper cables to connect to another vehicle for power supply and ignition, then start your car. For automatic transmission vehicles, you can only charge the battery or use jumper cables to connect to another vehicle for power supply and ignition, then start your car. The battery can also be removed and charged at a repair shop. Below are the detailed steps: 1. For manual transmission vehicles, if there is still some power left and you have people around, you can shift into 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 can start due to inertia. 2. If the battery is severely depleted, you can only use jumper cables to solve the problem. When using jumper cables, make sure to use a 12V DC power source and avoid reversing the positive and negative terminals, as this may damage car components. 3. If there is another working car nearby, you can use a wrench to remove the battery from that car, then remove the depleted battery from your car, install the working battery in your car to start it, and then reinstall both batteries. When removing the battery, disconnect the negative terminal first, then the positive terminal. When installing the battery, connect the positive terminal first, then the negative terminal. 4. Call the after-sales service of the car brand's 4S store for emergency repairs. They will come to the site to inspect or replace the battery. Some 4S stores may charge a fee for off-warranty emergency repairs. 5. Call your insurance company's customer service and inform them that your car has no power and requires rescue. Many large insurance companies now offer this service for free and can tow your car to the nearest 4S store.
That morning I was in a hurry to get to work and found my car wouldn't start. The dashboard lights were on but it just wouldn't turn over. This is almost certainly a dead battery, especially for older batteries over three years old. Don't rush to make a phone call yet—check if you have jumper cables in the car. Ask a friend to drive over and help, parking the two cars facing each other with engines running. Be extra careful when connecting: the red clip goes to the positive terminal (marked with a +) on both batteries, the black clip attaches to the negative terminal of the donor car, and the other end clamps onto your engine's metal bracket. After starting, don't turn off the engine for at least half an hour—drive straight to a repair shop for testing. If the battery is aging, replace it promptly, as this situation is most common in winter.
