How to Safely Boost Your Vehicle’s Battery
When the temperature plunges, car batteries unfortunately lose their strength. Manitoban winter nights can drop to -40°C, leading to significant power drains.
When your car battery is weak or dead, your car won’t start. Although there are other reasons you may need to jump-start your ride (such as dirty spark plugs or clogged fuel lines), the battery is the most common.
Keep reading to learn the basics of battery boosting and avoid getting stranded this winter.
HOW COLD TEMPERATURES DRAIN CAR BATTERIES
It’s a fact – cold weather drains car batteries. Over a battery’s lifespan, it naturally deteriorates from internal corrosion. This makes it more difficult for the battery to deliver a proper charge during cold snaps. When this happens, the battery is more likely to die.
Did you know that at 0°C, car batteries tend to lose 35% of their strength? By -17°C, they lose around 60%!
In Manitoba, our winters can get to around −40°C overnight. Those poor batteries! Luckily, there are ways you can jump-start your battery and prevent it from dying in the first place.
DIY BATTERY BOOSTING
DIY jump-starts prevent you from being stranded. It’s good to keep jumper cables in your vehicle at all times because you never know when they’ll come in handy. Typically, these are used with another vehicle to boost your car.
If you’re alone and unable to get help, you can also use a portable jump starter. For example, the NOCO Boost Sport 500 Amp Jump Starter costs about $135 CAD.
Whether you’re using another car or a jump-start battery pack, the steps are very similar:
Turn Car Off
Make sure your car is turned off before starting. If you are using another vehicle to boost your car, make sure they are parked near each other (but not touching) and turned off to begin.
Locate Your Car’s Battery
If you’re unsure where your car’s battery is, check the owner’s manual. In most cases, it is near the front of the car.
Connect Jumper Cables
One red jumper cable clamps to the positive terminal of your dead battery, and the other red cable will clamp onto the positive terminal of the charged battery.
Black jumper cables are a bit different. Attach one black clamp to the negative terminal of the charged battery. As for the other black cable, clamp it to a piece of grounded, non-painted or oily metal on your car. A nut or bolt that connects to the chassis or engine will most likely work. You don’t want to connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery, as this can risk igniting hydrogen gas.
Lastly, ensure your cables aren’t tangled up or dangling into the engine compartment!
Start the Vehicles
First, start the working ride. Rev the engine for 30–60 seconds, which helps to charge the dead battery (so long as the connection is strong).
Then, try starting the car with the dead battery. If it doesn’t work, there may be a problem with the connection. Turn everything off and adjust the cables before trying again. A tow truck might be needed if the car doesn’t start.
TIPS FOR USING A JUMPER PACK
•When using a jump start battery pack, you’ll connect the cables from the pack in the same way as above (red cable to positive terminal and black to grounded metal). Instructions on starting and charging with these can differ from product to product, so review them carefully.
•Keep in mind that there’s a difference between jumper packs and portable power packs. Portable power packs are useful for getting some extra battery life during camping trips and so on, but they lack the power to jump-start a near-dead battery.
•If you use a jumper pack, make sure to charge it every 30–90 days. They might require a bit more work than cables, but they can save you the cost of a tow truck!
MANITOBA’S BEST TOW TRUCK SERVICES
In some cases, you won’t want to jump-start your car for safety reasons (such as a cracked or leaking battery) and you’ll want to contact a tow truck service. Within Winnipeg, these are 3 of the best and most common towing services:
DR HOOK
Google Rating: ★ 4.9
Website: drhooktowing.com
Phone number: 1-800-561-4665
CHAMPION TOWING, LTD.
Google Rating: ★ 4.8
Website: championtowing.ca
Phone number: (204) 633-8868
SPRINTER TOWING
Google Rating: ★ 4.7
Website: sprintertowing.ca
Phone number: (204) 500-2420
OTHER WAYS TO PREVENT A DEAD BATTERY
Prevent a dead or drained battery in the winter with these 3 easy precautions:
•Use a battery blanket. Battery warmers keep your battery from reaching very cold temperatures during the winter and, in turn, increase its lifespan.
•Plug in your battery overnight. Whether it be to an outlet or a battery charging block, keeping your battery plugged in overnight will keep it charged. This is especially important during cold nights.
•Ensure your battery is in good condition. Is your battery three years old? Are your lights dimmer than they should be? Notice a weird smell around your battery? These are all signs you’re due for a new one.
DRIVE A WINTER-FRIENDLY VEHICLE
Is your car suited for Manitoba winters? If not, perhaps you should consider an SUV or truck for your next vehicle! Our inventory includes many great winter-ready rides. Learn everything you need to know about our Upgrade Advantage program today!
