Stuck on the road because of a dead battery? If you’re driving a manual transmission vehicle, jump-starting could solve your problem. The process works best with jumper cables, but there are ways to do it without them.
As frustrating as it is to have your ride die in the middle of the road, there are many ways to charge a dead car battery enough to get it running. Some of them require a helping hand or two.
Here are several methods to jump-start your daily driver without using jumper cables.
The first way to jump a car without jumper cables, and arguably the one that’s most widely known, is the push start method. Bear in mind that this only works with manual transmission vehicles.
You cannot do this method on your own. If you don’t have passengers to help you push your ride, you might have to ask for helpful strangers for assistance.
Park your vehicle on a flat road or at the top of a slight include. Then, once your assistants are ready to push your vehicle, you can start implementing the following steps.
If your vehicle still doesn’t start up, you might need to replace your car battery.
Another reliable way to jump-start your vehicle without jumper cables is to ask for help from people who do.
A surefire way to get a responder is to call a towing company. Roadside assistance offers quick fixes, helping drivers deal with emergencies with their services, and that includes jump-starting a dead battery if needed.
Of course, roadside assistance can also help you resolve other issues, so it pays to know how to contact them in a pinch.
Jump-start boxes are a great investment, providing a quick fix for dead batteries.
These portable batteries help prevent damaging voltage surges. They have jumper cables, and some extra features like A/C outlets, USB ports for device charging, and safety lights.
If you have one, follow these steps to use it to jump-start your ride safely.
If your vehicle still won’t start after following these steps, there’s a good chance your car battery is damaged and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
A solar charger converts energy from the sun and turns it into power. If you want to utilize it the next time your battery runs out of energy, you’re going to need a solar panel and your ride must have an auxiliary power outlet.
Bear in mind that this method only works on vehicles with manual transmissions, and it usually takes a long time to finish. It takes roughly 5-8 hours for a 200-watt solar charger to fully charge a car battery, so you might need to wait a while even if you don’t intend to charge it all the way.
Though there are multiple ways to jump-start manual vehicles, it’s trickier to start an automatic vehicle with a dead battery.
If you drive an automatic, you can’t charge the battery using the push start method, but you can power it with a portable battery.
All you need is a jump-start box. It’s a good practice to pack one with you wherever you go in case your car battery dies – or if you’re feeling generous, if someone else’s car battery dies.
Jump-start boxes don’t take up too much space so there’s no harm in keeping one in your cargo space.
Here are the answers to some of the questions many people ask about jump-starting a car.
No, you should never jump-start a damaged car battery. Doing so runs the risk of causing a fire, or in more severe cases, an explosion.
Yes, you can, but it’s not recommended. Although mishaps are rare with car batteries, there’s a slim chance the battery can explode or leak harmful chemicals. These chemicals can irritate and damage your skin.
Yes, you can use soda to clean corroded car battery terminals. It’s only a temporary fix and it’s not recommended to use as a go-to solution for corrosion, but it can be used in a pinch to break down corroded material.
For a long-term solution, you’re better off using baking soda and a steel wire brush. Boiling water also works as a suitable alternative.
Although you can temporarily bypass a dead car battery with a jump-start, you must replace the faulty part as soon as possible. Fortunately, CarParts.com delivers your replacement car battery to your doorstep, eliminating the need to jump-start your vehicle.
CarParts.com ships high-quality parts like car batteries to where you need them. When you order a product from our secure online store, our nearest distribution warehouse processes your order and ships your new part to your home. If you live anywhere in the continental US and order by noon ET, you can expect the car battery to arrive at your doorstep in several business days. We exclusively source our products from manufacturers trusted by drivers across the US. Thus, you’ll get the performance and reliability you deserve.
So, what are you waiting for? Browse our wide selection of affordable car batteries and enjoy big savings at CarParts.com today!
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.