What to do When Your Car Battery Dies in the Middle of Nowhere
Like any battery, a car battery is powered by electrolytes which absorb and maintain an electric charge. This charge is used to power the ignition of your engine, allowing your car to start so you can get to and from your destination. There may come a time when your battery is unable to get your engine started, which can be a minor inconvenience or a major pain depending on where you find yourself. Usually, if this happens in the city, help isn’t far away, and you’ll be able to get your battery charged and your vehicle back on the road in no time.
When you are in the middle of nowhere however, things can be a lot more difficult, especially if you are unprepared to deal with a dead car battery. To help you avoid major delays and a great deal of frustration, take a look at the following tips about what to do if your car battery dies in the middle of nowhere.
Get a Jump Start
One of the easiest ways to get your battery recharged so you can get back on the road is to ask a fellow driver for help jump-starting your battery. All you need is another vehicle with a charged battery and a set of jumper cables which you can find at most hardware or auto parts stores. Simply connect your dead battery to the other vehicle’s charged battery using the cables (black connects to the negative terminal on the charged battery and a solid metal on your car’s engine, red connects to the positive terminals on both batteries). Start the engine on the vehicle with the charged battery and run it for a few minutes, then try the ignition on your own car.
Do You Own a Battery Charging Pack?
Even if you’re out in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception and no other drivers around to help you jump your battery, you can charge the battery yourself if you have a charging
pack. Charging a battery using this process works in the exact same way as if you had another vehicle present, but the energy for your battery will come from the charging pack rather than another car battery. These charging packs usually cost anywhere from $100 to $200, but they are well worth the expense if you find yourself frequently driving in more remote locations.
Rolling Start
Although they are becoming less common on the road these days, there are plenty of manual transmission engines out there. If you happen to be driving a manual car, you’ll have another option for starting your engine when the car battery dies in the middle of nowhere. This will require the help of a passenger who is capable of pushing a car, however, but in a pinch, you’ll be able to get your engine running. Start by shifting your car into 2nd gear and press down on the clutch. Turn the key in your ignition to the drive position, then push the car so it has as much forward momentum as possible. Once things are rolling, release the clutch while leaving the car in 2nd and the ignition on, this should get the car started, and get you moving once again. Just don’t forget to pick up the passenger that was out there pushing!
Contact Professional Assistance
If you aren’t comfortable using any of the previous methods to get your battery charged, you can always contact roadside assistance. There are plenty of quality services available that are just a phone call away. In many cases, these services will simply provide you with a new battery, so you can get going again without having to worry about whether or not your car will start up next time.
For more information about quality car batteries and other handy items that will help you if you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, be sure to visit us at Polar Battery today!
