What to do when you car won’t start

Batteries fail much more frequently when it’s very hot and when it’s very cold. What should you do when your car won’t start?

The first task is to get a general idea of why it won’t start. Turn the key all the way off, then turn it to crank the engine. If you hear the starter spinning the engine at the normal speed, then you likely do not have a battery problem. The noise will sound something like this, “whrrr whrrr whrrr whrrr…” If it will make this noise for 10 seconds or more, for several attempts, then a “jump start” will not help you at all. You will need to have your car towed to a repair shop.

If when you turn the key you hear no sound at all, or you hear a clicking noise, or a single “thunk”, or if it turns over slowly, then you may be able to jump start your vehicle. A weak or a dead battery can often be jump started with the assistance of another vehicle and some jumper cables.

To jump start a car, follow these instructions in the order listed. First, make sure that both vehicles are turned off; that both ignition keys are in the off position. Attach the red jumper cable to the Positive battery terminal of the dead battery. This battery terminal will have a + sign or say POS. Do not attach the black jumper cable end yet. Go to the other end of the Red jumper cable and attach it to the Positive battery terminal of the good car. Now go back and attach the Black jumper cable to the Negative battery terminal of the dead battery. The negative battery terminal will have a – sign or say NEG. Finally attach the black cable end to the Negative battery terminal of the good car.

Some cars are so crowded under the hood that you cannot access the battery. On these cars you will usually see a red plastic cover with a label that says POS, and may even say Jump Start Here. In this case, connect the Red jumper cable to the bolt end at this connection. You will not find a similar point for the negative terminal. Connect the negative jumper cable to the biggest piece of bare metal that you can get the jumper cable to clamp to.

You are doing things in this order to avoid a spark. A spark could, in extremely rare circumstances, cause an explosion. But a spark can also damage the electronics on either or both vehicles. This too is rare, but when it happens it can cost hundreds, to more than a thousand dollars to repair. This damage is more often caused when someone mistakenly cross connects the positive and negative battery terminals between the two vehicles. Taking a few extra seconds to carefully follow the above procedure can save you money.

Now try to start the dead car. Try this first without starting the good car. It is better for the good car if you can start the dead car with the good car off. The dead car may still only make clicking noises or the starter spin too slowly for the engine to catch. If so, turn the dead car to off. Start the good car and allow the good car to run for several minutes. The alternator on the good car will be trying to charge the dead battery. You do not want to do this for more than 5 minutes, or you may burn out the alternator on the good car. After a few minutes, and with the good car still running, try again to start the dead car. If the dead car still will not start, you will need to have the car towed.

Brian Klaubert owns Christian Brothers Automotive – Hamilton Mill, on Braselton Hwy in Dacula. They are “Best of Gwinnett” winners in both the Gwinnett Daily Post and Gwinnett Magazine.