Defibrillate Your Battery - Why Do Cars Need a Jump Start

Nobody really thinks about the battery in their vehicle, until it's dead.  I wanna get in, turn the key, and go!  Batteries make the go part happen.  So, why do cars need a jump start?Your battery is like the heart of your vehicle.  It gets the blood or electricity running through your veins or wires.   Having a dying battery, (we'll talk about this below) especially in cold weather, will leave you stranded.  Temperatures are dropping and winter is coming, so let's talk about how you know if your battery is dying.First you need to know what is going on inside your battery.  Inside a battery are chemicals that react.  This chemical reaction is turned into electrical power to start your vehicle.  Cool huh?   However, this chemical reaction does not continue to happen forever.Batteries have a life cycle.  They are made/born, because of this chemical reaction will age, and then die.   Typically, batteries last 5 years.  So, if you know you are getting close to the 5 year mark with your battery (like all my drivers with 2008 and 2009 vehicles that have never changed their batteries) you may want to replace your battery.If you like to live on the edge, you can run your battery down until there is not enough chemical reaction to occur to give your vehicle electrical power.  That's when you need a "jump".  Side note - This is different from leaving the lights on your vehicle.  That will cause a battery that is not dying to drain and need a recharge.If you are crazy, you can run your battery down until there is no chemical reaction left and a "jump" won't save you.  The battery is dead and you will need a new one to start the car.I, the former auto airhead, have been in both situations.  It's harder to start a vehicle i.e. get the chemical reaction to cause electrical power when its cold out.  If you know your battery is at or close to the 5 year mark, I'd consider replacing it before winter comes!If you would like to learn more about vehicle batteries, attend one of my monthly workshops or schedule a workshop with your group or organization! Contact me for details!