We rely on our car batteries every day, but they aren’t always reliable. In fact, there are many things that can drain your battery. If you follow these tips from our Toyota service technicians at Sansone Toyota, you will know how to respond to a dead battery or hopefully avoid one altogether.
Jump-Starting Your Battery
If you have a dead battery, you’ll need to find another vehicle to jump-start yours. Park both vehicles as close together as you can and pop your hood, securing it carefully with the hood strut. Then, use your jumper cables to start your battery.
Attach the clamps in the following order:
- Red clamp to the positive terminal of your dead battery
- Other red clamp to the positive terminal of the booster battery
- Black clamp to the negative terminal of the booster battery
- Other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface of your car
Start the working vehicle and then start your car. Keep it running for a few minutes and then carefully remove the jumper cables in the opposite order that you attached them. Take your vehicle for a short drive before turning it off.
Things That Drain Your Battery
While you can’t always protect your battery, you should try to avoid a few things that drain your battery.
These things can make your battery less reliable:
- Leaving your headlights or interior lights on
- Having loose or corroded connections
- Driving in extreme temperatures
- Frequently taking short drives
- Having an old battery
If you’ve had issues with your battery, it’s important to have it inspected to make sure that it’s still working properly. Contact our Toyota dealership near Jersey City, NJ to set up a service appointment with our team today!
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