Although more women than men seem to develop some major anxiety issues when they realize that they need to get those jumper cables, the guys sometimes show a little hesitation as well.

You can’t really blame people for a brief moment of jittery apprehension, because if the truth is to be told, there is a very small chance that a fire or an explosion could occur. Note that the important key phrase being used is “small chance.”

However it does pay to understand how to get your car battery jump-started without getting yourself blown up in the process.
If you need to understand the conditions that can cause an “OOPS” event like a battery exploding in front of your face, here is a brief overview of the facts.

Hydrogen gas forms when a battery is discharging energy and losing fluid. This gas is highly flammable and a spark from the engine or battery cables could potentially create a devastating scenario, but this is pretty unlikely.

The hydrogen gas would have to become very dense before this occurred and this would only take place if the battery had been unused for a long period of time without any air circulation to disturb it. Possible? Yes. Likely?

Now let’s take a look at the steps you need to follow to safely jump-start your car.

1. You can use a portable jumper device that lets you do this task as a one-man show. You just need to remember to connect the red cable to the positive terminal, or post, and the black ground to the negative post. Batteries are color-coded and they also have the (+ and -) symbols that will help you keep things straight.
2. It’s a good idea to always ground your jumper cables first so make sure that you attach the black cable first. In a pinch you can ground it by clamping it to any metal part that is near the hood. Some people feel that attaching the cable to metal lessens the chance of any type of explosion and is a better grounding source. Both cables must be attached to the battery in the car that is providing the boost.
3. Never, ever hook the red (+) cable to a black (-) post and the black (-) one to the red (+) post because remember the talk about the explosion? Well, this backwards hookup has a much higher chance of causing this type of event.
4. If you are using another vehicle to boost your car battery it can be parked close, but should not be touching your car.
5. The jumper cables should be in good condition.
6. The cables should not be dangling down inside the engine compartments of either car. Excess cable should always be placed on the outside of the vehicles, or even on the ground.
7. Make sure the ignition is off on both automobiles and engage the parking brake. An automatic transmission needs to have the gearshift in Park and a car with a standard transmission should be in Neutral. Check to make sure the lights and radio are all off so there is no further drain to the battery. It is a good idea to have your hazard lights flashing, or set out the roadside flares so other drivers see the disabled vehicle.
8. The car that is giving the boost to the battery should then start the car and let it idle while the cables recharge the dead battery. This should only take a couple of minutes and then the jump-start will be completed.
If you follow these simple suggestions this common car tip can be performed without worry or fear.

With the 24/7 emergency roadside service benefits with a Warranty Direct extended car warranty, you won’t have to worry about jumpstarting your car. Call today for a free quote – 1-800-632-4222.

Here’s a story we can all relate to in some way or another:

You’ve had a crazy day; you’re trying to get 18 things done in the next two hours; you’re running around like a chicken with your head cut off; you haven’t eaten all day; you’ve got deadlines and commitments and not nearly enough time, and… you’ve just locked your keys in your car.

Not Today!

You want to scream. “How could I have done this?” You think. “No, not today, this can’t happen today…” You want to kick yourself for being so clueless. You want to just throw a rock at your window so you can grab your stupid keys and move on with your crazy day.

But, instead, you stand there with the utmost look of defeat in your face, staring at those precious keys sitting so visibly on the front seat of your car. It’s as if they’re taunting you. They’re so close, right there within reach, but you can’t get to them.

Your Day’s Schedule

It’s satirical how when you lock your keys in your car, it always seems to happen at the worst possible time. Obviously, it’s a complete accident. No one ever plans on locking their keys in their car…

12:00 – Lunch meeting with my boss

1:00 – Drop-off documents with client

1:30 – Rush back to make my 2:00

2:00 – My 2:00

3:00 – Lock my Keys in my car

4:00 – Finish my RFP for a huge client that we MUST get

5:00 – Pick up the kids and take them to soccer practice

6:30 – Feed the kids, my husband and Roofus (oh yeah, and myself)

Emergency Roadside Service to the Rescue

Unfortunately, it just doesn’t happen that way and that’s why it’s best to be as prepared as possible.  Extended car warranties offer lost key and locked out services – a service that you will be very thankful for when you find yourself outsmarted by your oh-so-convenient automatic lock system.

A key locked in your car may slow you down a bit but it shouldn’t ruin your day, so take full advantage of services that will help you speed through the bumps in the road.

There are many things that you can do to get ready for the snow and sleet-covered roads. Below is a list of things that we think will help prepare you for when you find yourself face-to-face (or should we say wheel-to-asphalt) with some deceitful black ice conditions.

• Go slow
• Get a tune-up
• Get snow tires
• Bring a cell phone
• Add a block heater
• Clean off any snow or ice
• Carry tire chains and sand bags
• Make sure your car has the proper safety features
• Check your battery, coolant, wipers and rear defroster
• Carry plenty of supplies (ex. water, food, blankets, shovel)
• Be prepared with an extended warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance

It’s so important!

Extended car warranties that include 24 hour roadside assistance can be extremely helpful for automobile situations that catch us off-guard. However, even with a reliable extended warranty it’s always important to be prepared for the worst.

That’s why Warranty Info suggests that all drivers stay safe by keeping a roadside emergency kit in their car at all times. You never know when you may be stuck out in the middle of nowhere, alone, in the dark and with no cell phone reception.

Below is a list of items that could come in handy when stuck in a not-so-convenient roadside situation:

• 12-foot jumper cables
• Four 15-minute roadside flares
• Two quarts of oil
• Gallon of antifreeze
• First aid kit
• Blanket
• Extra fuses
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Flat head screwdrivers
• Phillips head screwdrivers
• Pliers
• Vise Grips
• Adjustable wrench
• Tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat)
• Tire pressure gauge
• Rags
• Roll of paper towels
• Roll of duct tape
• Spray bottle with washer fluid
• Pocketknife
• Ice scraper
• Pen and paper
• Help sign
• Granola or energy bars
• Bottled water
• Heavy-duty nylon bag to carry it all in