Well, ladies, two weeks ago I was That Girl. The one at Northpark with a dead car battery.
I had just dropped off my kids and was sitting in the parking lot of the mall running my A/C, waiting for the stores to open. Veterans will know that this is a rookie mistake and my car battery totally died. I called my husband, and he was right in the middle of a meeting. Time is sort of an issue as I have multiple children to collect soon. I am mostly proud that I can locate my jumper cables. So I did what I usually do when I need a touch of help: Damsel in distress. This is effective for me regarding cars and Home Depot. Sure, I embrace the now and the girl-power thing, but I don’t do tools or cars.
I pop my hood and with jumper cables in hand, I sort of wander around the parking lot. I’m looking for a kindly gentleman to come to my aid. However, the 10 am Northpark crowd is pretty gentleman-less. And lo and behold, five minutes later, who comes to assist me? Pregnant lady with kids in the backseat. Sister hops out and is totally prepared to tackle my dead battery. She had me back on the road in no time. I was shown up! I made the resolution to learn how to help myself or at least not be helpless while a pregnant gal leans over my car in 108 degrees.
Do yourself a favor and print these instructions out and put them with your jumper cables in those minivans. Don’t have jumper cables? Get your dad or your husband or a nice helper at an auto store to equip your vehicle with an emergency kit. Throw in diapers/formula/snacks or whatnot if you have littles.
If you haven’t ever peeked under your car hood or examined your emergency kit, have someone give you a brief overview of all the basics… including things like where your battery is located. I know, I know.
HOW TO JUMP A CAR WITH A DEAD BATTERY
1. Make sure your car battery is the problem. Learn what your car will look like with a dead battery.
2. Have your helper car come as close as they can. Make sure both cars are turned off. Put on some safety goggles if you have em.
3. Connect one end of the RED jumper cable to the positive (plus sign) terminal on the STALLED car.
4. Then connect the other RED cable clamp to the positive terminal of the GOOD battery.
5. Next is BLACK (negative) jumper cable to the negative terminal of the GOOD battery.
6. Here’s the trick: Last: Put the other BLACK (negative) cable to a clean, unpainted metal surface under the STALLED car’s hood. A good choice is somewhere on the “engine block.” A sharpied spot by your husband could help you here. You can connect the black cables to both negative parts of the batteries but it’s ideal if you don’t.
7. Turn on the helper car. Let it run for a few minutes.
8. Start the dead car. Clap for yourselves when it turns on.
9. Remove cables in reverse order, : black stalled car, black helper car, red helper car, red dead car.
10. Drive your jumped car around for like 30 minutes so your battery can recharge.
Disclaimer: I’m not a mechanic, so ask one if you need one and please remember that if you use this advice.
