7 Ways to Start a Dead Battery
How many times have you killed your car and needed a jump start in the middle of the night while borrowing WiFi from the back of a WalMart while no one is around?
Um. Ok. Maybe that was just me. And I've got a very light-weight car with a manual transmission, which means on flat, level ground, I can pretty easily push start the damn thing if absolutely necessary.
My point is, nobody wants to be stranded somewhere. If you're on fumes and run out of gas, you can probably make it to the gas station on foot. But there's not always a convenient source of power to get you back on the road.
Here are 7 options. I've used almost all of them.
Jump Start.
Howdy, stranger. How about you give me some free electricity. No, I don't plan to pay you for it. Not sure how long it will be before it turns over.
Charge Overnight (When that doesn't work, you can turn off whatever accessory is draining the battery, then let it charge another night.)
Have a new battery delivered.
Possibly while you're waiting for a day or two for your cheap battery tender to charge up the car.
Shipping is so fast these days that you might just want to have a new battery delivered. Some people don't care about exploding in a ball of hydrogen or being electrocuted. They throw caution to the wind and do a little spot welding with a spare auto battery.
You might end up with a spare battery, but you can collect your core charge when you recycle it.
Have a second mode of transportation.
I'm not sure if you want to carry a car battery on a bike, bus, or burro, but
Invest in a well-made jump-starter pack.
It doesn't have to be expensive. But it does need to be high quality.
Push-Start
Last resort. When all else fails, I've successfully push-started manual transmission cars for a long time. I've even push-started a motorcycle. I live dangerously like that.
It's the one time I want to pop the clutch.
If you turn the key and it doesn't start, but you still have plenty of juice in the battery, you might have a dead starter motor. You can try giving it a tap to get it to start one last time.
If you tap it and it doesn't start, it's probably time to call AAA or use the emergency Roadside Assistance towing coverage that came with your credit card, cell phone, AARP, your car dealer, manufacturer, car insurance, auto club or other membership programs.
Or you could buy a car that automatically turns the headlights on and off for you.
Of course, sticking out your thumb and hitchhiking is also an option. They say it's dangerous, but then again, so is driving a car.
Um. Ok. Maybe that was just me. And I've got a very light-weight car with a manual transmission, which means on flat, level ground, I can pretty easily push start the damn thing if absolutely necessary.
My point is, nobody wants to be stranded somewhere. If you're on fumes and run out of gas, you can probably make it to the gas station on foot. But there's not always a convenient source of power to get you back on the road.
Here are 7 options. I've used almost all of them.
Jump Start.
Howdy, stranger. How about you give me some free electricity. No, I don't plan to pay you for it. Not sure how long it will be before it turns over.
Charge Overnight (When that doesn't work, you can turn off whatever accessory is draining the battery, then let it charge another night.)
You'll need to invest at least $25 in a battery tender. I've had this $25 trickle charger since 2014. Great reviews. Cheap, popular, and well-made.
If it's possible to resurrect a battery, this should do the job. It also prevents dead batteries.
Possibly while you're waiting for a day or two for your cheap battery tender to charge up the car.
Shipping is so fast these days that you might just want to have a new battery delivered. Some people don't care about exploding in a ball of hydrogen or being electrocuted. They throw caution to the wind and do a little spot welding with a spare auto battery.
You might end up with a spare battery, but you can collect your core charge when you recycle it.
Have a second mode of transportation.
I'm not sure if you want to carry a car battery on a bike, bus, or burro, but
Invest in a well-made jump-starter pack.
It doesn't have to be expensive. But it does need to be high quality.
Push-Start
Last resort. When all else fails, I've successfully push-started manual transmission cars for a long time. I've even push-started a motorcycle. I live dangerously like that.
It's the one time I want to pop the clutch.
If you turn the key and it doesn't start, but you still have plenty of juice in the battery, you might have a dead starter motor. You can try giving it a tap to get it to start one last time.
If you tap it and it doesn't start, it's probably time to call AAA or use the emergency Roadside Assistance towing coverage that came with your credit card, cell phone, AARP, your car dealer, manufacturer, car insurance, auto club or other membership programs.
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| We're not a street gang. We're an auto club. Roadside assistance included. |
Of course, sticking out your thumb and hitchhiking is also an option. They say it's dangerous, but then again, so is driving a car.
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