What to Do When Your Car Won't Start Due to a Dead Battery? Self-Rescue Methods
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Here are some self-rescue methods when your car won't start due to a dead battery: 1. Push-starting the car: This method can only be used for manual transmission cars. Never attempt this with an automatic transmission vehicle, as it may cause damage to the engine and clutch. 2. Jump-starting with cables: This requires two vehicles connected by jumper cables to charge the dead battery. Be careful not to reverse the positive and negative terminals, and ensure the two cars do not come into contact. Only use dedicated jumper cables. 3. Using a portable car battery charger: These are specifically designed to charge car batteries. If you're concerned about encountering this situation, it's advisable to keep one in your vehicle. 4. Calling for roadside assistance: There are now some road assistance services organized by car owners themselves, which can help when such problems occur. Alternatively, you can directly call a towing service. Many insurance companies offer several free towing services as part of their insurance packages.
Last time I went on a self-driving trip in the mountains and encountered a completely dead battery, with very weak phone signal. The most important thing in such wilderness self-rescue is to stay calm. First, check if the battery is depleted: dim headlights or weak horn sound are typical signs. For manual transmission cars, you can look for a slope or ask someone to push-start the car: turn the key to the ON position, press the clutch and shift to second gear, wait until the speed reaches about 10 mph, then quickly release the clutch, and press the accelerator immediately once the engine starts. If there's no slope or it's an automatic transmission, wait for passing cars to help with a jump-start: connect the red cable to both positive terminals, and the black cable to the rescuer's negative terminal and the metal body of the assisted car. After self-rescue, don't turn off the engine and drive directly to replace the battery. Remember to buy jumper cables with protective layers, and keeping an emergency power source in the glove box can really be a lifesaver.