It is never too late to learn how to jumpstart you vehicle.
The odds are that at one point in your vehicle’s life the battery will die. Now, to avoid this situation, it’s wise to get it periodically checked, usually when you get your oil changed. Typically, a battery will last between three to five years. A battery will last longer on a newer model car. The longevity of your battery is dictated by several factors, including the type of vehicle that you drive, your driving habits, and where you live.
There are several ways to maintain a healthy battery:
- Periodically clean the terminals to prevent corrosion.
- Maintain your car so that less stress is placed on the battery.
- Make sure that the battery is properly installed and fits snug.
What Can Cause Battery Failure?
Two of the major reasons a car battery will fail is heat and vibration. Heat causes water to evaporate in the battery, which leads to corrosion, while vibration will damage components within the battery over time. How you drive your vehicle also impacts the battery life. If you only take you car out on short trips, then that does not give the battery time to charge. Also, if you leave your car parked for an extended period, you will more than likely come back to a dead battery.
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How To Jumpstart Your Car
So, if your car battery does happen to die, what exactly do you do? The first step is to make sure that you are located in a safe place off the road. More than likely, you will have a pair of jumper cables in your car. If not, you should. If you do not have a portable power pack, then you need another vehicle to kickstart the battery.
Once you have another vehicle, you place them nose to nose. Open the hood, keep the red and black clamps separated, and place the clamps on the battery posts. Be sure to brush away any dirt off of the posts; You will need a clean connection. If you can, connect the black clamp to an unpainted engine bolt or piece of the car’s frame near the dead battery.
When everything is connected, start the functioning car first, then attempt to start the dead car. If you hear a clicking sound, you might have a bad starter. However, if the interior lights come on, but your engine does nothing but click, you might have other issues at hand. If your car does start up, then leave it running while you disconnect the cables.
If you need to get your battery checked, or your vehicle serviced, then take it into our body shop today at Red McCombs Superior Body Shop.