Battery Jump Starts

There are several reasons why a car's battery might die and not start the vehicle. Some common causes include:

1. A battery that is more than 3-5 years old may not hold a charge as well as a newer battery, and may not have enough power to start the car.
2. If the battery terminals are dirty or corroded, it can prevent the electrical current from flowing properly and cause the battery to die.
3. If the alternator, which charges the battery while the car is running, is not working properly, it can cause the battery to die.
4. Leaving the headlights or other electrical components on while the car is not running can drain the battery and prevent the car from starting.

To start a car with a dead battery, a towing service like Hammond Towing Services would typically use a set of jumper cables to jump start the car. The jumper cables are connected to the dead battery and then to a functioning battery, which provides a temporary burst of power to start the car. Once the car is running, the alternator should charge the battery and the car should be able to run normally.

How to Keep Your Vehicle Battery From Dying

​Here are some steps you can take to help prevent your car's battery from dying:
​

1. Keep your car's battery clean and free of corrosion. Check the battery terminals and clean them with a wire brush if necessary.
2. Make sure the alternator is working properly. The alternator charges the battery while the car is running, so if the alternator is not functioning properly, it can drain the battery.
3. Avoid using too many electrical accessories while the car is not running. Things like the headlights, interior lights, and car stereo can drain the battery if they are left on while the car is not running.
4. Drive your car regularly. Batteries can discharge over time if the car is not driven, so it's important to take it for a spin at least once a week to help keep the battery charged.
5. Consider using a battery maintainer or charger. These devices can help keep your battery charged when the car is not being driven, which can help extend its life.
6. If your car battery is more than 3-5 years old, consider replacing it. As batteries age, they become less efficient and may not hold a charge as well as a newer battery.

How to Safely Jump Start a Battery

​Here are the steps for safely jump starting a car with a dead battery:
​

1. Make sure both vehicles are turned off and the ignition keys are out of the ignition.
2. Connect one end of the positive jumper cable (red) to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
3. Connect the other end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal of the functioning battery.
4. Connect one end of the negative jumper cable (black) to the negative terminal of the functioning battery.
5. Connect the other end of the negative jumper cable to a metal surface on the car with the dead battery, such as a bolt on the engine block. Do not connect the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery, as this can cause a spark and potentially ignite any hydrogen gas that may be present.
6. Start the car with the functioning battery and let it run for a few minutes.
7. Try starting the car with the dead battery. If it starts, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that you put them on: first the negative cable from the car with the dead battery, then the negative cable from the functioning battery. Finally, remove the positive cables from both batteries.
8. If the car with the dead battery does not start, wait a few minutes and try again. If it still does not start, there may be another issue with the car that is preventing it from starting.

Battery Jump Starts are Common

There's a Proper and an Improper Way to Jump a Battery