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A flat car battery is never the worst breakdown to have, but you can sometimes find yourself in a very unpleasant situation because of it.
Take Precautions
One of the most common reasons for a flat battery is forgetting to turn off your headlights. Beyond this, good general maintenance can help you avoid ending up in a tricky situation, especially if you are far from home.
Car batteries have a limited lifetime, the length of which depends mostly upon how they are used. Remember that much more stress is placed on the battery in winter. This is the most common time of year for a battery to fail. You should check the battery before the weather turns cold and, of course, replace it if it is already old.
It is impossible to start the car with a flat battery since it is the battery that makes the engine start. Sometimes, however, the engine may not start even if the battery is charged. If this is the case, there is probably another issue. It could be due to the humidity or to excessive heat.
You could recharge the battery with a charger, but most drivers do not carry a charger with them, and recharging the battery can take several hours. A better solution is to carry jump leads in the boot.
Jump leads
Jump leads are used in case of a breakdown to take advantage of another vehicle’s electrical system. In addition to the charger, jump leads are indispensable for your car battery, especially in winter, so many drivers carry them in their car throughout this time of year. They are used to connect the red terminal of your battery to the red terminal of the battery in another car and, likewise, black to black. Red indicates the positive terminal and black is negative. Using them will allow you to get home, where you can completely recharge the battery.
The real problem is often finding someone who will stop and take the time to give you a hand.
Do Not Panic
You can replace the battery when the car no longer starts, but if it is a recent problem, this is probably not necessary. It is better to ask someone to take a look. Do not panic if the battery dies.
The first solution to consider is recharging the battery with the leads and then with the charger. If the battery needs to be replaced, you can probably do it yourself. Don’t forget, though, that you will almost certainly benefit from a professional repair or replacement of the battery.
Check the roadside assistance coverage on your vehicle. It may depend on how far you are from home. “0 miles” means that it does not matter where the repair is made, and this includes your own driveway.
Bruce Giles writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
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