What if you are on a highway or a lonely road and your car breaks down suddenly and refuses to restart? At that point the only thing that crosses your mind is wish you had known how to fix the problem yourself. Well, if you are reading this, you need not worry. In most cases it is your car battery that is the cause of the vehicle coming to a sudden halt. A little TLC for your battery and you can get your car running smoothly again.
First and foremost, try to understand what the problem with your car battery is. When you attempt to start your car, you may be faced with the following two scenarios –
Scenario 1: When the car engine turns well but does not start
Scenario 2: The engine does not turn on at all or turns on very slowly
This diagram should guide you step by step guide to drive your car out of trouble when you are facing a starting problem with your car -
Jump-Starting Your Vehicle
Jump-starting is a method of starting a vehicle that has a discharged starting battery. In case you need to jump-start your car, follow the process mentioned below.
Before you start, note the following –
Ensure that the vehicle battery and battery for jump-starting have the same declared voltage.
Turn off all electrical loads. Check both the vehicles and make sure no part is touching each other and the gear is in neutral position.
Vehicles should also have the same terminal earthed, if not, refer to manufacturers' instructions.
Make sure the jump-starting cables are not frayed or damaged.
Step 1Connect the positive terminal of jump-starting battery to the positive terminal of the stalled car battery - on negative grounded system.
Step 2Connect one end of the other cable to the negative (-) terminal of the booster battery.
Step 3Connect the other cable away from the battery, to the engine block or car frame of the vehicle to be started.
Step 4Make sure cables are away from fan blades and other moving vehicle parts.
Step 6After starting, remove cables in reverse order, starting with one connected to engine block or car frame.
Step 7If the vehicle does not start within 30 seconds, call an auto electrician.
Caution!Vehicles with electronic management systems should not be jump-started without "protected" jump-starter leads. Refer to the owner's handbook for jump-starting procedures for such vehicles.