Understanding Your Vehicle

Posted on: 12 June 2018

By the law of averages, there will come a time when you will jump into your car and be unable to crank it into life. Often, this will be due to a battery failure of some kind or a related fault within the electrical system. If you are frantically searching for remedies online, how can you get going now so that you're not late for work or another important appointment?

Root of the Problem

Firstly, what happens when you turn the key in the ignition? If you can see some lights on the dashboard but they appear to be dim, try turning on the windscreen wiper. If the wipers move slowly, then this indicates that the battery is very flat. If, on the other hand, there appears to be no life at all, then this tells you that the battery is completely flat and may have failed altogether. Lastly, if you hear a clicking noise when you try to turn the ignition key all the way to the right, then this could be caused by a jammed starter motor.

First Method

In each case, you can try to jumpstart the vehicle. If you happen to have a set of cables, then you will need access to another car with a fully functioning battery. Maybe you can knock on the neighbour's door and see if they will help you out. With the other car running, connect the cables and make sure that you always hook up negative and positive contacts correctly. You should now be able to start your car as the donor vehicle is providing the necessary jump.

Second Method

If you don't have access to another car or don't have any cables, then you will need to get some volunteers to help you. As you sit in the driver's seat, ask them to push the vehicle along the road until you reach running pace. With your foot on the clutch and the vehicle in second gear (assuming it is not an automatic), make sure that the ignition key is in the fully "on" position.

When you have reached the appropriate speed, remove your foot from the clutch sharply and this should force the engine to start, activating the electrical system. You should only do this where it is safe to manoeuvre and never build up too much speed. You must always be able to bring the vehicle to a stop if this method does not work.

Next Action

Once you're on your way, get in touch with a mechanic to find out what is wrong with the system, as you may need to get a replacement batteries.