
While the battery is out, inspect it carefully for leaks or case damage. The basement is OK, but not if it’s damp and not on the concrete floor-prop it up-very level-on plywood instead. Inside storage is a good practice during the winter months in very cold climates. The optimum temperature for car batteries is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Wearing gloves and goggles for this is a good idea. If it’s going to be a while and you’re good with a wrench, consider removing the battery from the car and bringing it into the house. Keep your car charged with a battery tender, which can give you other information about your car battery. In most cases with tenders, you can set it and forget it-though occasionally checking in to make sure all is well is a good idea. Some of the more expensive units (still under $100) claim to be able to repair battery plates damaged by sulfation (the buildup of lead sulfate crystals on the plates). If the battery is near the end of its life, many tenders will issue a heads-up. They not only keep the battery topped off but will also issue a warning if you don’t observe polarity (red positive to red, black negative to black). Despite being available for less than $30 in many cases, tenders have become quite sophisticated. Call us at 42 or visit our website at to discuss your auto insurance needs.The easiest way to keep your car charged is with an inexpensive battery tender. If the car won’t start the next time you use it, the battery isn’t holding a charge and needs to be replaced.Īt Widener Insurance Agency, Inc., your road safety is very important to us. If the jump works and your car starts, don’t shut off your engine! Drive around for at least 15 minutes to recharge your battery. The black clip from the negative terminal.Unclip the clips in the reverse order you connected them:

If it goes on, there may be enough power.

What do you need to know about car batteries to jump start a car?Ĭar batteries have two larger nubs, called terminals. Road side assistance usually uses a jump box when helping stalled vehicles. These cables connect the jump battery directly to the dead car battery.
RED POSITIVE BLACK NEGATIVE BATTERY PORTABLE
Jump boxes are portable batteries used to jump start a vehicle without connecting to another vehicle and come with special jump cables.

The clips are distinguished by color, usually red and black, to indicate positive and negative polarity. Jumper cables are long, thickly insulated cables with toothy clips on one or both ends. Watch these steps for jump starting a car from Safe2Drive.īefore you can recharge and get going, you need a few basics: jumper cables and a power source – either a portable jump battery (a jump box) or another vehicle. As your insurance agent, we care about your safety!
RED POSITIVE BLACK NEGATIVE BATTERY HOW TO
While learning how to jump start a car can be easy, there are risks in it if done so incorrectly.
