Few things in life are as annoying as having a dead battery, but if you’re driving when yours conks out it can be particularly frustrating...
Few things in
life are as annoying as having a dead battery, but if you’re driving when yours
conks out it can be particularly frustrating. That’s why it’s smart to be
prepared to handle this problem when it arises. Here’s how to be ready if and
when your battery dies while you’re on the road.
Have Tools Ready for Emergencies
There’s at
least some comfort in being prepared if your battery dies while you’re driving,
so keeping some basic tools in your car is a wise move. Having a jumper cable in your trunk
will make it easier to get a jump start from another vehicle, while a portable
battery jumper will let you handle the job yourself if no one else is around.
Basic safety
tools like reflective triangles or cones are good to have to ensure you’re
visible to other drivers. Keep your phone charged and preprogram important
numbers like those of your roadside assistance provider or nearby friends who
could come help you. If you don’t have a professional to assist you, then
having goggles and gloves on hand can make the process safer.
Prepare to Jumpstart Your Car
Being prepared
also means knowing how to jump a car safely and
correctly. Start by pushing your car to a location away from moving traffic. If
you’ll be getting a boost from another vehicle then find a spot where both cars
can have their front bumpers facing, but not touching, each other.
Jumper cables
are colored for guidance. Connect one red clamp to the positive terminal of the
dead battery, then clamp the other end to the positive terminal of the good
battery. Clamp one black clamp to the negative terminal of the good battery,
and then clamp the other end to any piece of grounded metal on the car with the
dead battery.
Start the
working car and let it idle for a minute, then start the dead car. Once it’s
running, remove the clamps in reverse order and let the car that received the
charge idle for at least five minutes. Follow the same basic process if you’re
using a portable jumper.
Replace Your Battery Before It Dies
Of course, it’s
better not to have to deal with a dead battery in the first place. Replace
yours at the first sign of declining performance, such as dim headlights or
slow starting. Some people make it a habit to get a new battery every two to
three years to reduce the risk of an aged battery going kaput at a bad time. If
your battery is over five years old, you’re probably driving on borrowed time
and should replace it ASAP.
You can prepare
yourself for dealing with a dead battery by buying cables or a portable jumper,
but it’s even smarter to get a new one before yours dies. Shop online today for
a battery for 2009 Nissan Murano or whichever vehicle you operate, so you’ll be less likely
to have troubles while out on the road.
