As luck would have it, the battery can fail at the most unfortunate moment. You're getting ready for work, you're late, you get into the car, and the battery barely turns. Or you made a stop on the highway, but couldn’t start. Not only are there problems with the battery, but also the nerves are getting worse, as plans are going into the abyss. What to do in such a situation? First, calm down, assess the situation and choose one of the ways to start the car engine when the battery is dead. Below are the main ways to start a car without a battery.
How does a battery work?
To understand the essence of the battery drainage process, you need to have at least minimal knowledge about its internal structure and the principles of power supply to the on-board network. Thanks to this, it will be known not only why the battery died, but also what will have to be done to prevent, and generally avoid, such a common problem situation.
The essence and principle of operation of the battery
- The plastic case of the battery contains plate electrodes immersed in an electrolyte (liquid solution);
- Lead is most often used as electrodes;
- the electrolyte can be alkalis and acids, and in car batteries sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is almost always used;
- the physical and chemical principle of battery operation is that electrolyte molecules disintegrate into charged particles - ions, as a result of which current flows between the electrodes when there is a load;
- when a car battery runs out, the number of charged particles in the electrolyte sharply decreases, as a result of which only weak currents can pass through it, which are not capable of activating the starter motor;
- if for some reason the battery of any car dies down and weakens, then you will have to take care of looking for a charger , which, by passing a certain current through the battery, helps to increase the charged particles in the electrolyte.
In cases where the battery suddenly runs out, you need to look for reasons that may turn out to be unexpected, but the essence of the problem is always the same, and it lies in the fact that the discharge current is higher than the charging current. Certain reactions occur in the electrolyte that contribute to its slow discharge.
Reasons for battery drain
The reason for a dead battery may be different, but the result will be clear - you won’t be able to start the car’s engine.
This problem, when the car battery is dead, can happen at any time, for example, due to the fact that you forgot to turn off the side lights in the parking lot. But most often the car battery runs out with the onset of cold weather in winter.
The main reasons why the battery dies in winter:
- increased energy consumption caused by constant operation of the interior heater and seat heaters;
- prolonged operation of the engine at low speeds when warming up or while parked, as a result of which the generator does not operate at full capacity and cannot replenish the loss of battery energy;
- cooling the battery, leading to a decrease in the electrochemical activity of electrolyte ions and, accordingly, a decrease in capacity and current;
- High engine resistance with thick, cold oil leads to increased load and increased current consumption by the starter when starting the car.
Experts, when advising on how to start a very low acid battery, recommend first of all warming it up indoors and, if possible, recharging it.
Faced with a dead battery in practice, many car owners are simply not prepared, either informationally or technically, for such a situation and they can only hope for the help of more experienced motorists on the road. However, such assistance often remains ineffective for starting a car with a discharged battery. Even if you are sure that there will be a responsive car owner who, as a rule, is in a hurry about his business, it is not a fact that the process of “lighting up” will go smoothly for you. Sophisticated car owners, understanding the seriousness of the risk, are more likely to refuse such help and they will be right.
Modern cars are equipped with complex electronic circuits. When connecting third-party power to the vehicle's on-board network, voltage surges occur and the risk of causing major damage to both one and the other vehicle increases significantly. This creates very serious financial risks for both car owners. Therefore, every car owner needs to be prepared to deal with the problem themselves.
A few rules to avoid running out of battery
It is extremely unlikely that you will be able to start a car with a dead battery on your own without any auxiliary equipment. Moreover, if you have an automatic transmission (in this case, under no circumstances should you. Perhaps having a gasoline generator or a starter-charger in the trunk could help, but hardly anyone drives a car with such a set. It’s not for nothing that there is a saying – “Forewarned is forearmed.” And the winner from a problematic situation will be the one who prepared in advance.
Preventive measures to prevent the battery from running out. What to do first:
- monitor the level and density of the electrolyte, and if necessary, especially in winter, add a correction electrolyte of a higher density;
- At the first symptoms, replace the battery with a new one, since starting a car with a dead battery is often very problematic.
- If your battery dies for no apparent reason, then do not try to disassemble it yourself and try to resurrect it. The battery is a hazardous chemical element that can be explosive if not handled correctly.
- if the essence of charge sagging is frost, then you can bring it into a warm room at night;
- Check for current leakage inside the car. First of all, pay attention to various gadgets that consume energy, after which you should contact a specialist electrician who will help identify problematic “holes” in the vehicle’s on-board network;
- replace the generator with a more powerful one if necessary;
How to start a car in cold weather? Practical advice
Reasons for battery discharge
First. There are many reasons why a battery may be discharged, but the most common is failure due to the end of its service life.
Despite the fact that technological progress is advancing across the planet by leaps and bounds, in the field of car batteries it has remained mothballed at the level of the 80-90s of the last century.
Even those batteries that are produced today can be considered worse in quality than those produced in the USSR. They are still lead, still acidic and just as susceptible to sulfation as their counterparts were almost a quarter of a century ago.
Only if their Soviet counterparts were adapted to repair and the possibility of extending their service life, today batteries are maintenance-free and simply thrown away.
Ways to start a car with a dead battery in place
There are several more or less quick ways to start the car itself, even with a very low battery, which is only enough to turn on the instrument panel, but not to crank the starter. Some of these methods, as well as possible problems and risks associated with them, are reflected in the table.
| WAY | POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND RISKS | |
| 1. | Lighting, in which you can start a car from the battery of another car, which is connected to the dead battery with special cables with clamps |
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| 2. | Stock up on a gasoline generator |
|
| 3 | Towing by other vehicles |
|
| 4 | New battery |
|
| 5 | Using the Jump Starter |
|
Thus, if the battery is dead and the urgent question arises - how to start your car, think about which option would suit you best at the moment. But don't forget about the risks and features of each method for starting a dead battery in the field! In any case, let us once again recall some of the nuances of starting a car with a dead battery. Compliance with them will significantly increase your chances of starting the engine in a critical situation.
A jump starter - a panacea for a weak battery?
Or a fairy tale for marketers to sell a worthless trinket to car enthusiasts?
Those who don’t know how to start a dead battery and want to be prepared for unpleasant surprises should get acquainted with one of the new products in the field of car accessories - a jump starter. It is synonymous with the name Car Battery Jump Starter.
At first glance, such a small device, outwardly similar to a regular power bank, does not inspire the idea that it is capable of starting an entire car. But I would like to immediately dispel doubts, it really works.
The secret is that such Jump Starters are equipped with a special high-ampere output , which is connected to the car’s standard battery through “crocodile” starting wires. The peak current of a standard starting device is 400 amperes, which is more than enough to crank the starter of a passenger car or crossover with an engine capacity of up to 2.5 liters.
The online car accessories store Smart-Auto.Shop provides very detailed information about one of the most popular models among car enthusiasts. Smart Power 400A ensures quick starting of the car due to pulsed current, capable of starting not only gasoline, but also diesel engines with a higher compression ratio.
In fact, the Jump Starter is a starting device that every car owner should have, especially in cases where the car battery runs out and there is a risk of being left on the road!
Jump starter is:
- the ability to quickly start the engine when the car battery is dead;
- Power Bank for all gadgets;
- high brightness flashlight.
And most importantly, it is confidence on the road, both on a long journey and within the city.
When traveling, the jump starter can be charged from the cigarette lighter so that it is always ready. And when the battery runs out, the reasons are not so important if you have such a device at hand! You just need to connect the wires with clamps to the battery terminals and start the engine.
Before purchasing, you need to familiarize yourself with the information about the current strength of the device and whether the jump starter matches your engine type. Information about this can be found on the Smart-Auto.Shop website.
Which jump starter model is right for you?
Jump Starter models, delivering a peak current of up to 400 amperes, are suitable for gasoline engines up to 2.3 liters and for diesel engines with a cylinder volume of no more than 1.8 liters.
And Jump Starter models with a peak current of up to 600 amperes are capable of starting gasoline engines up to 3.5 liters and diesel engines up to 2.5 liters.
- Quick view
What wires are used for “lighting”
The modern market offers a wide selection of wires from various manufacturers for connecting one car to another for the purpose of starting. There are several main criteria for a good cable:
- Large section. The larger the cross-section of the wire, the more current it can pass through itself. In addition, the thin cable gets very hot. The minimum thickness required for “lighting” is 16 mm2, which is sufficient for both passenger cars and large SUVs.
- Material. It is better to opt for copper wires; they have minimal resistance.
- Length. If the wires are too short, there may be a connection problem. But at the same time, as the length increases, the resistance of the material also increases, and therefore the charge consumption of the donor battery. 2.5 - 3 meters of cable is enough.
When choosing wires, you should carefully inspect them for damage to the insulation and contact on the alligator clips. If the contact is poor, the total resistance increases greatly; you should ensure that the connection is of good quality. The clamps should not be too small, otherwise it will simply be impossible to connect them to the battery terminals.
Portable starter-charger for car 600A GKFLY 12V
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₽5,695 ₽3,189 Buy with a Discount There are many tips and recommendations on how to start a dead battery and how to start a car if the battery power is not enough to start, but many of these tips are not so easy to apply in real and critical conditions.
The best solution is to be prepared in advance and have a jump starter in your glove compartment or bag, which works great as a power bank for recharging your smartphone, tablet and other gadgets. And the main thing is the ability to solve such a popular problem among motorists, when the car’s battery runs out, independently and instantly.
By the way, today we are giving you a discount of 300 rubles. to purchase the most popular Jump Starter model!
To use it:
- Go to the page for this product and add it to your cart (Open Jump Starter Smart Power 400A).
- Go to Cart and when placing your order, enter this promo code ( starter300 ) in the special field. The amount of your order will be immediately recalculated taking into account the discount.
Use a discount
In any problematic situations related to a weak battery in a car, a jump starter will not only help start it, but may also save lives in a critical situation on the road! After all, when the car stalls in the cold, there is no time to find out the reasons why the battery runs out, you need to act quickly!
How to understand that the battery has gone to zero
If the cause of the discharge is not visually visible, then the method of searching for it is as follows.
First of all, you need to check the level of charge that the battery provides. This is done using a device - a multimeter.
During normal operation of the generator, the multimeter should show a charge level in the range of 13-15 volts.
Functional features of the device
If you decide to purchase a charger, the best option would be a device that contains a battery indicator.
- the device must have built-in zero discharge protection, since such a device will last much longer;
- possibility of further charging;
- The power of the purchased device must be appropriate.
To avoid trouble, purchase equipment from specialized stores that can provide appropriate documentation on the quality and safety of the product. This is the only way you can protect yourself and your transport.
Terms of use
When working with such equipment, remember the following: If you start the car after a long period of inactivity, you will have to remove the battery from the vehicle and fully charge it. It is important not to overcharge the battery. Otherwise, it will boil, which will not have the best effect on its functionality. In terms of time, high-quality batteries charge from 1 to 2 hours. The maximum voltage is 12.5-13 V. With a lower value, the car simply will not start, with a higher value it will cause damage to the battery.
Starting devices
The last type is starting devices (they are also rechargeable or “boosters”). Such devices use a battery in their design, which allows the engine to start. Moreover, these boosters can use a variety of batteries in their design - from conventional maintenance-free acid batteries to lithium-polymer batteries, which have now become very popular (the so-called “PowerBank”).
Starting devices work on the same principle as pulse starting-chargers, that is, they simply supplement the battery charge with their own, which allows you to start the car.
Extreme option (not recommended)
In the most extreme situations, you can use diluted alcohol or warm water. Although after such a recharge, you will most likely have to go to the store for a new battery. The liquid is poured into each of the battery wells, where it reacts with the electrolyte, albeit slightly, but still increasing its voltage. Still, without having such experience, we recommend not to take risks.
If all of the above methods do not suit you and there are no available means, calmly call the road service or use a tow truck.
To avoid finding yourself in a similar situation, be attentive to your car. Do not allow the battery to become completely discharged, keep it clean, and turn off the lights when you park the car.
It may be interesting: the check engine light came on : what does it mean and how to reset it, as well as how much gasoline is used to warm up the engine in winter .
Use a rope or cable
A front- or rear-wheel drive car with a manual transmission can be started in another exotic way, relying on the strength of one person. To do this you will need a long flat cable and a jack.
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- It is necessary to secure the car with the parking brake, jack it up from one of the two drive wheels and turn the wheels to the side.
- You need to wind the cable around the wheel so that, by pulling the cable towards you, you make the wheel rotate counterclockwise.
- Put the car in third gear, turn on the ignition and with a sharp movement try to spin the wheel using a cable.
- If the engine can be started, the wheel will begin to rotate on its own, and you will need to immediately engage neutral gear. The center differential will transfer all the torque to the wheel hanging in the air, which will prevent the car from spontaneously moving.
Important points when “lighting up”
By “lighting” your car from another, you can make mistakes that will lead to unpleasant consequences. It is better to study them before you start your car. There is also a certain set of rules that must be followed for safety reasons. Below are the main ones:
- You should not “light” a battery with obvious defects: cracked, swollen, with deposits on the terminals. In this case, it is better to immediately replace it with a new battery. Also, a donor with such defects should not be used.
- You should not charge a car with a more capacious battery from a less capacious one. When starting such a car, it requires large starting currents, and therefore consumes more electricity; a weak battery will instantly run out of power. But the opposite is possible.
- The battery voltage must be identical. You cannot charge a 12 V battery from a six volt battery. And trying to charge a 12V car battery from 24V will result in you burning out the electronics and possibly the battery.
- It is important to follow the order in which the cables are connected. They, of course, can be connected in any order, this does not matter. But if there is any confusion, it will result in a short circuit, damage, or worse, an explosion. Stick to the line for safety reasons.
- Follow safety precautions. It is better to wear gloves and anti-fragmentation glasses, do not touch metal objects on the car when starting, and do not lean low towards the battery.
- The “lighting up” process should not be carried out indoors. Due to the vapors of gasoline and battery electrolyte, a fire may occur from a spark.
And finally, remember, before starting work, the craftsmen recommend completely turning off the engine and all equipment, and also removing the key from the donor ignition switch.
