Nothing is more nerve-wracking than finding out your car battery is dead. Many of us have experienced hearing the “click-click” sound when we’ve tried to start our car, and nothing happens. Now what? Protecting yourself and your car requires more than just excellent car insurance. Keeping an eye on regular maintenance and car safety will go a long way. That’s why you should have your battery checked by your automotive service provider when the seasons change in the fall. Becoming situated with your car’s battery is crucial when it comes to the longevity of your vehicle and its battery! If you ever find yourself in a position where you need to boost your car battery, don’t panic! With our guide below, you will have your car up and running again in no time.

1. First, get yourself situated

As soon as you realize your battery is dead, turn your engine off. By not doing so, you can further damage your car and end up with more than just a dead battery. This can be costly! You should get yourself situated by finding out where your car’s battery is and how to locate it. This information can be found in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have that handy, a quick Google search can get the job done! Remember that if you are alone, you will also need to locate the battery on the second vehicle, as well.

2. Connect the positive (+) red booster cable to your car battery first

Take a look at your jumper cables. From there, you should notice that there will be a positive jumper cable as well as a negative. These will generally be red and black. Take the red clamp and connect it to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Make sure your connection is good by giving it a slight wiggle! If the clamp is loose, it may not work. Take the other side and clamp it to the positive terminal of the donor vehicle’s battery in the same fashion.

3. Next, connect the negative (-) black booster cable to your car battery

Now it’s time to use the negative cable. Connect the negative cable clamp to the negative terminal on the donor vehicle’s battery. Make sure this is secure. From there, take the single remaining clamp and carefully connect it to a grounding point in your vehicle. This is considered anything made of conductive metal that is attached to your vehicle’s frame. This can be an exhaust manifold bolt or an engine mount bolt. Make sure what you pick is a safe distance away from the battery just to be safe! Similar to finding the battery, you can do a quick Google search to find grounding points in your vehicle.

4. Start the donor vehicle

This step is simple. It is time to start the engine of the donor vehicle! Ensure that its alternator is charging its car battery so that there is enough juice for the car, as well as the dead vehicle it will be charging.

5. Fire up that engine

Now, the moment of truth! Hop back into your car with the dead battery and start its engine. It may take a few tries and struggle, but this is completely normal. If this is the case, however, it is important to avoid running the starter motor for more than a few seconds at a time. This will prevent it from overheating and give it time to cool down.

If you have been successful, it is time to wrap up! Make sure you safely remove all cables in the reverse order from above and safely store them. Even if you have successfully boosted your vehicle, it is important to consider scheduling an appointment to have your vehicle’s battery and charging system inspected professionally. This can prevent any dead batteries in the future.

Parking tips to help boost your car battery

Whenever you are parking your car, you should either pull through the spot or back into it. The reason is if you have a car battery that is dead, it will be easier to get the booster cables to the car battery. If the front of the car is blocked, it’ll be more difficult to get to the hood!

3 tips to keep your car battery healthy

Batteries are the heart of the vehicle, and if yours isn’t in good shape, your vehicle won’t do you much good. By keeping your battery healthy, you can prevent unpleasant surprises and situations that can be costly, annoying, and dangerous. Additionally, you will increase the longevity of your battery to get the most use out of it before eventual replacement. Here are some tips on how to keep your car battery in tip-top shape:

1. Keep your terminal clean

Batteries often require cleaning to remove deposits that can build up over time. This deposit will often look like a salty substance. Keep your battery clean to give it a better and longer life.

2. Drive or start your car often

Many people forget that your battery is recharged when your car is being driven. If your car sits unused for extended periods or your trips are infrequent and short, your battery is at risk. The solution for this is simple; go for a good drive about once a week if you don’t drive often. Or, at the very least, start it every few days.

3. Trickle charging

Many drivers will use a trickle charger when they are aware their vehicle has been unused for an extended period. A trickle charger will connect to your battery and into a nearby power outlet to make sure it is always topped up and ready to use.

When all else fails, just know that you can rely on reputable companies, such as CAA, to help you boost your car battery. A driver’s rule of thumb is to keep an emergency car safety kit handy at all times. Luckily, isure has got you covered with our ultimate winter safety kit, which is also useful in other seasons.

It is crucial to remember that no matter what happens, having reliable car insurance is always a must. Are you in the market for new insurance or unhappy with your current provider? Why not check out isure? Request a quote or contact us today!

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