The problem with experiencing a battery problem is that you can’t exactly tell when or where it’s going to happen. Count yourself lucky if it happens on a day you’re not running late or when you’re still in the city and your mechanic or auto repair shop is just a block away.
But you can’t count on the universe to be so understanding all the time. Some of the not-so-lucky drivers have to deal with a dead
battery situation when they’re miles away from the nearest car accessory store, or worse, when they’re stuck on a signal dead spot where it’s impossible to call in the tow truck for help. In times like these, these tips and tricks to jumpstart your vehicle’s dead power cell would come in handy.
An aspirin or two might save the day
Aspirin is a mainstay in any medicine kit; it can be used for a variety of ailments such as fever, headaches, toothaches and cold. But what you probably don’t know is that it just might
cure your dead battery.
You’ll need two aspirin tablets for this trick to work. First, unscrew the filler caps. The next step is to divide the tablets in such a way that you’ll be able to distributed the aspirin evenly into each cell. Put the caps then you can now try starting your car.
Works like magic (that why we call it a jump starting trick) but there’s a science behind it. The charge comes from mixing the power cell’s sulfuric acid with the aspirin’s acetylsalicylic acid. However, we advise you to only resort to this method as a last resort because it has a downside – it will affect the power storage device’s durability so better use it only on old ones, which have served their purpose.
Baking soda is not just for baking
Your vehicle’s power problem might also be caused by the buildup of corrosive particles on the power storage device’s terminals, which prevents it from functioning to its full capacity. Obviously, you can remedy the situation by removing this build-up using items that you can find in any household.
Common items such as baking soda.
To do it, mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. Apply the mixture to the power cell’s terminals and, after a few minutes, remove the now softened build-up with a piece of wet cloth. Be sure to dry the terminals first before use. You can also opt to coat it with a little petroleum jelly to prevent future build-up and corrosion.
Spice up your battery’s performance with a little bit of Epsom salt
When a car battery is not used for quite some time, its charge storing capacity will diminish due to the formation of lead sulfate. The good news is that you can actually restore its power-storing capability by removing this lead sulfate, a process called desulfation.
Mix 7 to 8 oz of Epsom salts with 1/2 qt. of warm water. Once thoroughly mixed, pour a portion of the mixture into each cell. Be careful though because the sulfuric acid inside the battery is quite powerful and can even cause blindness if it gets into contact with your eyes.
Remember these three of the easy-to-do car jump starting tricks as they might come in handy one day. But if you want an even easier solution, head over to our car accessories buying guide and take your pick on our quality portable
jump starter suggestions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can a car battery be too dead to jump start?
Yes, it is possible that your car battery gets so uncharged that it will not even receive a jump start anymore.
Can jumper cables start a dead battery?
If you car battery is not too dead to jump start, you can use jumper cables to make it work again. In this case, you will need to connect your car to another vehicle providing the jump start with the jumper cables and let your battery charge for a couple of minutes. Please consult with a professional if you are not experienced enough to work with electricity.
Can a completely dead battery be recharged?
Sure. Technically, a dead battery simply means a battery that is uncharged. As every car battery is chargeable, you can recharge
even a completely dead battery.
