How to Maintain and Jumpstart Your Vehicle’s Battery

Feb 18, 2024

It’s National Battery Day! For today’s post, we’re going to share a lesson on how to safely jump start your car. We understand that this important task may seem overwhelming at first glance, or perhaps you have a little anxiety regarding touching the cables to terminals. Rest easy, traveler! Your friends here at Classic are here to help demystify the experience and instruct you on how to safely and easily get your battery recharged. Plus, we’re sharing some facts about your vehicle’s battery that we bet you didn’t know, and tips and tricks to proper battery maintenance!

Fun Facts About Car Batteries:

Traditional 12V lead-acid car batteries consist of 6 cells, each with 2.1 volts; these batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy as a result of the reaction between the plates and sulfuric acid.
Car batteries should be checked every 6 months; look for greenish-yellow buildup, loose cables, and use a voltmeter and battery tester to determine how much power the battery is still emitting.
Modern day car batteries last an average of 3 to 6 years, depending on how well your vehicle is maintained.
Dead car batteries (12V) don’t get thrown away in the regular trash! Due to the lead dioxide and sulphuric acid inside traditional car batteries, car batteries have a special recycling process.
Electric Vehicle battery packs are designed using lithium-ion chemistry, and the energy that powers EVs comes from this battery. They typically have a range of 250-350 miles after a full charge. When the vehicle performance dips to 80% of its optimal range, you’ll want to bring your vehicle into a service center to check it out. Storing your vehicle in a temperature-controlled environment, and keeping the charge above 20% at all times can help extend the lifespan of your EV Battery.
Cold weather can decrease the charge of your vehicle’s battery as much as 30%-60%, and that goes for both ICE batteries and EV batteries; EVs may lose driving mileage range anywhere from 10-36% total

What leads to dead car batteries?

Leaving your headlights or interior lights on without your car running is one of the most common reasons for a dead battery. If your vehicle is older and doesn’t have a warning signal, or your warning signals are malfunctioning, it’s very easy to forget and leave them on when you exit the vehicle. Always double check that you’ve turned off all exterior/interior lights.
Similarly, listening to your vehicle’s radio or stereo or watching something on the infotainment while the car engine is off can quickly deplete battery resources. If you’re parked and waiting, it will take an average of two to three hours to die, but if your battery is already weaker or older, it may be drained of power much faster than that.
Corroded batteries and loose connections can mean that the starter motor is unable to draw a current. Make sure you regularly inspect your car battery for signs of corrosion including blue, green, or white powdery substances leaking out, and notice any signs of damaged connections.
If you’re storing or parking your vehicle for a length of time without driving it, the battery will naturally discharge and ultimately die over time. You can prevent this by starting your vehicle at least once per week. The longer the car is not used, the longer the battery is not charging! Longer term storage recommendations are to disconnect the car battery by first removing the negative cable then positive cable; this helps keep a fully charged battery in good condition for anywhere from 6 to 12 months!

What do you do if your vehicle battery dies?

If you have a hybrid or traditional internal combustion engine vehicle, you can jump start your vehicle’s battery. ICEs and HEVs both use a typical 12V battery to start. It is perfectly safe to jump a hybrid with a non-hybrid car, as well as hybrid to hybrid Not sure how to jump start a car’s battery? We’ve got you covered in less than 10 easy steps!

Step 1: Make sure both cars are parked close to one another with the hoods facing each other, but be sure that the vehicles are not touching.

Step 2: Turn off both vehicles, pop the hoods, and locate the batteries.

Step 3: Find your jumper cables and unwind/untangle them.

Step 4: Attach the red (+) clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery. Then, attach the red (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the working battery. **

Step 5: Attach the black (-) clamp to the negative terminal of the working battery. Then, attach the remaining black (-) clamp to an unpainted, metal surface of the dead car. **

Step 6: Start the working car. Follow up by starting the car with the dead battery.

Step 7: Once the dead battery car is started, remove the cables in the reverse order that you attached them.

Step 8: Let the previously-dead car’s engine run for at least 15 minutes.

If you follow these steps and your car won’t start, you’ll want to double check the connections and try again. If after a few attempts the battery will not start, give your roadside assistance a call or head over to the nearest auto parts store/local auto body shop for a replacement battery.

** Note that if you are driving a hybrid vehicle, the other end of the cable attached to the dead vehicle may go in slightly different places depending on the make/model; consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specifics!