Have you ever been in a situation when you needed to get to work or an important meeting, but your car wouldn't start? We have, and I'm guessing it'll eventually happen to you if it hasn't already. When such a situation arises, chances are that a dead or weak battery is the culprit.why it dies or weakensThere are a number of reasons why batteries can weaken and fail. A few common ones include:Leaving headlights, interior lights, flashers, and the radio on when the car isn't running. Using the air conditioner when the car is not running. Not starting a car for long periods of time (e.g., while it's in storage). Lack of battery maintenance (e.g., not keeping terminals clean). Failure of the diode bridge or voltage regulator in the alternator; the alternator charges the battery when the car is running. Low air temperature, which causes batteries to freeze. who to callIf your battery does fail, there are a number of people and services you might want to turn to for assistance:Friends and familyIt's likely that at least one person you know has jumper cables, or is available to give you a ride. Unfortunately, restarting a battery is not a one-man job and you'll need outside help either way -- you're no Magneto.Towing serviceCall a towing service and they can take your car to a location where the battery can be recharged or replaced. Towing costs typically run $50 or more, depending on the towing distance and the service you use. You should always keep pertinent phone numbers stored in your glove box, so no matter who is driving the car they can reach the appropriate people they need. Also ensure that the towing company is aware of the type of vehicle you have. Do not let them tow an all-wheel drive car with the rear wheels dragging -- ask for a flat-bed on the phone if you have an all-wheel drive vehicle, just to be safe. Not that we encourage second-guessing the professionals, but it's also important to take note of how the driver secures your vehicle; attaching the towing chain to the bumper is not going to end well. Call a reliable, well-known towing service to avoid major mishaps.Auto clubMembership in AAA or some other motor club can also prove useful when you have battery problems. Services that such groups provide can include jump-starting and towing. The cost of joining a motor club varies; membership in AAA, for example, costs around $60 annually. Some cars even come with their own membership, for example Subaru Canada enlists their vehicles (not the vehicle's owner) in CAA, so the car will always have roadside assistance, no matter who the driver is.Manufacturer's roadside assistanceIf you drive a newer vehicle that's still under warranty, chances are that you qualify for roadside assistance provided by the manufacturer. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual or contact your dealer for more information. what to do when your battery diesThe most common way to deal with a dead battery is by jump-starting it. All you need to jump-start a car is a set of jumper cables and another car (the "rescue" car) with a functional battery. Keep in mind that you should never try to jump-start a car if its battery is cracked and is visibly leaking acid.Jump-starting a car involves a number of steps:Step 1: Park the "rescue" car and the car with the dead battery nose-to-nose, or side-by-side facing the same direction. Connect one end of the positive cables to the positive terminal on the "rescue" car's battery, and the other end to the positive terminal on the dead battery. (Note that the positive cable is usually red; the negative cable is black.)Step 2: Connect one end of the negative cable to the negative terminal on the "rescue" car's battery, and the other end to a non-moving, grounded part of the dead car's engine bay -- we recommend the engine manifold, as it is generally unpainted and a good location for the clamp.Step 3: Start the "rescue" car and allow it to run for a few minutes (5 minutes or so); doing so will allow its battery to recharge the dead battery.Step 4: With the rescue car running, attempt to start the car with the dead battery; if the car doesn't start, repeat step 3.If the car with the dead battery starts, allow its engine to run for at least five full minutes so that the alternator can recharge the battery. Disconnect the jumper cables from both cars in the reverse order in which you connected them. Make sure that you don't let any of the cables' extremities touch, as it may create a spark.Massively important safety note: Never connect both negative and positive cables at the same time while you are holding them. Unless you'd like the entire voltage of the car coursing through your body, don't do it. Also, refrain from touching the negative and positive knobs with your hands/fingers/extremities. We know it's tempting, but you don't want to be an auto kebab.push-start your carIn the event that you're unable to jump-start your car and your car has a manual transmission, you may be able to get your car running by push-starting it. However, this is also quite risky and not highly recommended.Step 1: Turn the ignition key to the "on" position, put the car in first gear, and hold the clutch pedal to the floor; second gear may also work, but it's best to use first gear.Step 2: Push the car forward or have someone else push the car forward. Ensure that you are on a deserted street or parking lot at the time, and there is no oncoming traffic.Step 3: When the car is rolling, let the clutch pedal out quickly; doing so should make the engine turn over and start.Step 4: Repeat steps 1 through 3 if push-starting doesn't work the first time.If you car still won't start after several attempts at jump-starting or push-starting, it's likely that you'll need a new battery or new alternator. You only need to replace the alternator if that's what has caused the battery to fail. what to have handyJumper cablesIt's always a good idea to keep jumper cables in your car. They can prove useful in the event that your car needs a jump-start, or in cases where you may need to jump-start someone else's vehicle. Jumper cables cost approximately $10, and should be available at any automotive supply store. They come in different lengths, but a 12-foot cable is fairly standard.VoltmeterYou may also want to keep a voltmeter in your car to test its battery. Voltmeters typically run about $15, and are also available at auto parts stores.ChargerAt home, it's always a good idea to have an AC charger handy. You can use such a device when your car's battery dies or becomes too weak to start the car. Like jumper cables and voltmeters, chargers are available where car parts are sold, and prices start at $40.It's a good idea to hang on to receipts when you purchase car batteries. They are necessary if you ever need to return your battery, and can help you get small discounts on the purchase of new batteries. charge itThere are many reasons why car batteries can fail and sometimes leave us stranded. Fortunately, there are a number of ways we can prevent our batteries from failing and, in worst-case scenarios, there are ways to get ourselves back on the road if they do fail us.source: askmen
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Dealing With A Dead Car Battery
Have you ever been in a situation when you needed to get to work or an important meeting, but your car wouldn't start? We have, and I'm guessing it'll eventually happen to you if it hasn't already. When such a situation arises, chances are that a dead or weak battery is the culprit.why it dies or weakensThere are a number of reasons why batteries can weaken and fail. A few common ones include:Leaving headlights, interior lights, flashers, and the radio on when the car isn't running. Using the air conditioner when the car is not running. Not starting a car for long periods of time (e.g., while it's in storage). Lack of battery maintenance (e.g., not keeping terminals clean). Failure of the diode bridge or voltage regulator in the alternator; the alternator charges the battery when the car is running. Low air temperature, which causes batteries to freeze. who to callIf your battery does fail, there are a number of people and services you might want to turn to for assistance:Friends and familyIt's likely that at least one person you know has jumper cables, or is available to give you a ride. Unfortunately, restarting a battery is not a one-man job and you'll need outside help either way -- you're no Magneto.Towing serviceCall a towing service and they can take your car to a location where the battery can be recharged or replaced. Towing costs typically run $50 or more, depending on the towing distance and the service you use. You should always keep pertinent phone numbers stored in your glove box, so no matter who is driving the car they can reach the appropriate people they need. Also ensure that the towing company is aware of the type of vehicle you have. Do not let them tow an all-wheel drive car with the rear wheels dragging -- ask for a flat-bed on the phone if you have an all-wheel drive vehicle, just to be safe. Not that we encourage second-guessing the professionals, but it's also important to take note of how the driver secures your vehicle; attaching the towing chain to the bumper is not going to end well. Call a reliable, well-known towing service to avoid major mishaps.Auto clubMembership in AAA or some other motor club can also prove useful when you have battery problems. Services that such groups provide can include jump-starting and towing. The cost of joining a motor club varies; membership in AAA, for example, costs around $60 annually. Some cars even come with their own membership, for example Subaru Canada enlists their vehicles (not the vehicle's owner) in CAA, so the car will always have roadside assistance, no matter who the driver is.Manufacturer's roadside assistanceIf you drive a newer vehicle that's still under warranty, chances are that you qualify for roadside assistance provided by the manufacturer. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual or contact your dealer for more information. what to do when your battery diesThe most common way to deal with a dead battery is by jump-starting it. All you need to jump-start a car is a set of jumper cables and another car (the "rescue" car) with a functional battery. Keep in mind that you should never try to jump-start a car if its battery is cracked and is visibly leaking acid.Jump-starting a car involves a number of steps:Step 1: Park the "rescue" car and the car with the dead battery nose-to-nose, or side-by-side facing the same direction. Connect one end of the positive cables to the positive terminal on the "rescue" car's battery, and the other end to the positive terminal on the dead battery. (Note that the positive cable is usually red; the negative cable is black.)Step 2: Connect one end of the negative cable to the negative terminal on the "rescue" car's battery, and the other end to a non-moving, grounded part of the dead car's engine bay -- we recommend the engine manifold, as it is generally unpainted and a good location for the clamp.Step 3: Start the "rescue" car and allow it to run for a few minutes (5 minutes or so); doing so will allow its battery to recharge the dead battery.Step 4: With the rescue car running, attempt to start the car with the dead battery; if the car doesn't start, repeat step 3.If the car with the dead battery starts, allow its engine to run for at least five full minutes so that the alternator can recharge the battery. Disconnect the jumper cables from both cars in the reverse order in which you connected them. Make sure that you don't let any of the cables' extremities touch, as it may create a spark.Massively important safety note: Never connect both negative and positive cables at the same time while you are holding them. Unless you'd like the entire voltage of the car coursing through your body, don't do it. Also, refrain from touching the negative and positive knobs with your hands/fingers/extremities. We know it's tempting, but you don't want to be an auto kebab.push-start your carIn the event that you're unable to jump-start your car and your car has a manual transmission, you may be able to get your car running by push-starting it. However, this is also quite risky and not highly recommended.Step 1: Turn the ignition key to the "on" position, put the car in first gear, and hold the clutch pedal to the floor; second gear may also work, but it's best to use first gear.Step 2: Push the car forward or have someone else push the car forward. Ensure that you are on a deserted street or parking lot at the time, and there is no oncoming traffic.Step 3: When the car is rolling, let the clutch pedal out quickly; doing so should make the engine turn over and start.Step 4: Repeat steps 1 through 3 if push-starting doesn't work the first time.If you car still won't start after several attempts at jump-starting or push-starting, it's likely that you'll need a new battery or new alternator. You only need to replace the alternator if that's what has caused the battery to fail. what to have handyJumper cablesIt's always a good idea to keep jumper cables in your car. They can prove useful in the event that your car needs a jump-start, or in cases where you may need to jump-start someone else's vehicle. Jumper cables cost approximately $10, and should be available at any automotive supply store. They come in different lengths, but a 12-foot cable is fairly standard.VoltmeterYou may also want to keep a voltmeter in your car to test its battery. Voltmeters typically run about $15, and are also available at auto parts stores.ChargerAt home, it's always a good idea to have an AC charger handy. You can use such a device when your car's battery dies or becomes too weak to start the car. Like jumper cables and voltmeters, chargers are available where car parts are sold, and prices start at $40.It's a good idea to hang on to receipts when you purchase car batteries. They are necessary if you ever need to return your battery, and can help you get small discounts on the purchase of new batteries. charge itThere are many reasons why car batteries can fail and sometimes leave us stranded. Fortunately, there are a number of ways we can prevent our batteries from failing and, in worst-case scenarios, there are ways to get ourselves back on the road if they do fail us.source: askmen