Easy Guide to Jump Starting a Dead Car Battery

Posted on October 6, 2022 by gcsjunk

A car battery can die for a number of reasons. The most common cause is simple – age. Batteries have a natural lifespan, and after a few years they just stop being able to hold a charge. Other causes of battery death include extreme temperatures, loose or corroded connections, and electrical issues within the car itself.

Continue below to learn more about car battery care, including how to jump start a dead car battery using a set of jumper cables and a good Samaritan.

Sell Junk Car Parts Louisville Kentucky 502-804-5605

Car Battery Maintenance

Despite what some people may think, it’s actually quite easy to prevent a battery from dying prematurely. The most important thing to do is to keep it clean. Dirty batteries are more likely to corrode, and corrosion can lead to all sorts of problems. If you live in an area with cold winters, make sure to keep your battery warm – either by storing it in a garage or by using a battery blanket. And finally, if you suspect that your car has any electrical issues, get them fixed as soon as possible. Ignoring these issues will only make them worse, and they could eventually lead to your battery dying.

It’s important to maintain your car battery to extend its lifespan and keep it working properly. Here are a few tips on how to do so:

▶ Keep it clean – free of dirt, corrosion, and other debris.

▶ Check the water level regularly and top it off with distilled water if necessary.

▶ Inspect the terminals and connections to make sure they’re tight and free of corrosion.

▶ Have the battery tested regularly to check its performance and identify any potential issues.

▶ If your battery is more than 3 years old, consider replacing it.

Following these tips will help you keep your car battery in good condition and prevent any problems down the road.

How to Jump Start a Dead Battery

A car battery can die suddenly and without warning. If you’re lucky, it will happen when you’re at home or work and you can call a friend or tow truck to help. But if it happens when you’re out and about, you’ll need to know how to jump start your car battery. It’s actually not that difficult, but it’s important to follow the instructions carefully to avoid damaging your car.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

■ Jumper cables
■ Another car with a working battery
■ A set of instructions

Here’s How To Do It:

1. Park the working car next to the car with the dead battery, making sure that the two batteries are not touching.

2. Turn off all lights and accessories in both cars.

3. Connect one end of the positive (red) jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery.

4. Connect the other end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal of the working battery.

5. Connect one end of the negative (black) jumper cable to the negative terminal of the working battery.

6. Connect the other end of the negative jumper cable to a metal part of the car with the dead battery. This helps to ground the circuit and prevents sparks.

7. Start the working car and let it run for a few minutes.

8. Try to start the car with the dead battery. If it doesn’t start, check the cables to make sure they’re all connected properly and try again.

9. Once the car with the dead battery is running, disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order that you connected them.

Congratulations! Your battery should be charged up again!

Did your car battery die for good this time? If so, sell it for cash on the spot, then place that profit towards a new car battery! Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 502-804-5605 to sell a junk car parts in Louisville, Kentucky for an instant cash payout. We provide FREE junk car removal!

Why Did My Car Battery Corrode?

Posted on May 31, 2022 by gcsjunk

As someone who’s been driving for many years, you’ve come to learn quite well the importance of your car battery. Car batteries work ongoing maintenance and routine replacement. Without proper care, car batteries will decline in both efficiency and performance. If you’ve been having problems starting or maintaining charge in your car battery, you might want to pop open the hood and take a look at its current condition. If you notice a white, scum like film accumulating around and within the battery terminals, it is an indication of battery corrosion.

Continue reading to learn more about battery corrosion, including what causes it to happen and what you can do about it.

Auto Parts Recycling Louisville Kentucky 502-804-5605

Identifying Car Battery Corrosion

Car battery corrosion is common, especially in old car batteries. It is easy to diagnose a corroded car battery because the bright crust that forms on and around the battery terminals is hard to miss. It looks similar to dried-up toothpaste, ranging in colors from white to greenish or light blue hues. It starts white, but once, but upon exposure to moisture, it will turn to a greenish or blue color. Furthermore, corrosion crust accumulates in large masses, so once it is discovered, there is usually a large deposit to deal with.

What Causes a Car Battery to Corrode?

When a car battery is corroded, the crust impedes the electrical connection because it is a bad conductor of electricity. It causes a transient current flow, which means the electricity circles right back to the battery just keep the battery charged. Your car might turn on, but the engine will not be able to start.

The most common causes for car battery corrosion development include overcharging, gas escape, and old age. If your car battery is overcharged, the fluid within the battery terminals will expand. This will cause an overflow of liquid inside of the car battery, which can basically flood the terminals with acid. Acid causes corrosion, which in turn generates corrosion development.

Gas escape is another common reason why car batteries develop corrosion. This usually depends on the type of car battery and how it’s placed within the vehicle. Car batteries have tiny vents that allow hydrogen gas to flow through them. Sometimes these hydrogen gases can come in contact with the battery terminals or car cables, thus triggering corrosion. As already mentioned, old car batteries are more prone to car battery corrosion.

What To Do About Battery Corrosion

If your car battery is corroded, you must take a closer look to determine your compatible options. You see, just because a car battery is corroded does not mean that it is junked. It is possible to clean the corrosion off of a car battery, so long as you have the right materials and use the right methods. If your battery is new, you should try cleaning the corrosion before replacing the battery altogether. If your battery is old, or approaching the 4 to 5 year mark, battery replacement is the best option for you. Sell your used car battery to a Louisville scrapyard for cash on the spot!

To clean the corrosion off of a car battery, you will need baking soda, petroleum jelly, anti-corrosion pads, a stiff bristle brush or wire brush, safety goggles, work gloves, clean water, and rags. Always disconnect your battery cables starting with the negative (-) cable first before you begin cleaning your car battery. Combine the baking soda, usually around a teaspoon, with the petroleum jelly to create a paste. Apply the paste all over the corrosion and scrub away with your anti-corrosion pads or stiff bristle brush. Thoroughly rinse the car battery when you are finished, then allow it to dry completely.

Do you have some junk auto parts that you’d like to sell for cash on the spot? Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 502-804-5605 to sell used car parts in Louisville, Kentucky. We pay cash for all scrap metal and automotive parts.

3 Hazardous Auto Parts and How to Dispose of Them Safely

Posted on February 16, 2022 by gcsjunk

If you have some car parts or materials laying around and you are ready to get rid of them, be sure you know how to do so safely and according to local and federal regulations. There are certain auto parts and materials that are too hazardous for conventional trash disposal. If you are attempting to dispose of these particularly dangerous or harmful car parts, you must follow proper protocol.

Continue reading to learn the top 3 most hazardous parts of a vehicle and what you can do to ensure their tossed out responsibly.

Louisville KY Junk Car Service 502-804-5605

Dangerous Car Parts and Materials

A car in general is arguably dangerous, so the rest of it can certainly pose a wide range of risks. But when it comes to hazardous materials, there are 3 auto parts in particular that must be disposed of according to local, state, and federal regulations. These car parts are airbags, batteries, and gasoline.

Airbags

The law deems airbags, or Supplemental Restraint Devices (SRS Devices), as an automotive part that contains a reactive hazardous waste. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and subsequent regulations, the law does not allow you to simply throw an airbag out in your regular trash pickup container, whether it is new or deployed. If you do, you can be cited for illegal disposal of a reactive hazardous waste. What makes airbags hazardous? Well, they contain a long list of constituents that are combustible and potentially explosive, including propellants, ignitable chemicals, and more.

All airbags must be disposed at a certified airbag handler, approved hazardous waste disposal center, or designated airbag collection facility.

Car Batteries

Car batteries are another hazardous auto part that should be disposed of responsibly and in accordance with all local, state, and EPA regulations. Car batteries contain chemicals and metals that can be toxic to the surrounding environment. After three or four years, your car battery will need to be replaced. Be sure you have the proper instructions on how to get rid of an old or broken car battery in your community.

Car batteries can actually be recycled, so choose a local scrap metal recycling center or auto salvage lot to take yours.

Gasoline

Although not actually an auto part, gasoline is an imperative part of driving your gas-powered car, and it is common to find yourself with an old stash you no longer need. You might have some old gasoline laying around for a lawn mower or scooter you no longer have. Or perhaps you are siphoning old, dirty fuel out of a fuel-powered equipment. Regardless of why you have old cans of gasoline or diesel fuel on your hands, it is your responsibility to dispose of it safely, and you guessed it, while adhering to all local and state laws.

Locate a designated gasoline disposal facility or hazardous waste disposal center in your city. They will instruct you to transfer your gasoline or diesel into a government-approved container, like those traditional red plastic cans you see around.

Do you have an old or junked car taking up space in your garage? Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 502-804-5605 to sell your junk car in Louisville, Kentucky for cash on the spot! We provide free junk car removal too!

How to Safely Toss Out an Old Car Battery

Posted on June 29, 2020 by gcsjunk

Car batteries are not designed to last forever. So, at some point, you will need to have yours replaced. When that time comes, it is important to have a plan set up for safe battery disposal. Not only are there ordinances that regulate battery disposal, automotive batteries contain several hazardous chemicals and materials, so they cannot simply be thrown away like the rest of your garbage. Instead, you will have to use alternative disposal methods. If your vehicle will soon be needing car battery replacement, be sure you know what to do with your old one!

Continue reading to learn how to safely dispose old car batteries.

Auto Salvage Yards

Automotive batteries contain several metal constituents that can be recycled and repurposed. In fact, most parts of an old car battery can be reprocessed and reused in new car batteries. This is enormously beneficial to our environment and the preservation of our planet’s natural resources. So, one safe and efficient course for car battery disposal would be to recycle them at a local auto salvage or junkyard.

Many junk car buying companies pay cash for scrap metal, so you may be able to help the environment and make a quick buck at the same time! If you cannot locate a Louisville cash for cars company, look to automotive repair shops. Many mechanics accept old car batteries too.

Tips for Handling Old Car Batteries

Because car batteries contain hazardous materials and chemicals, it is critical that you handle old or used ones properly if replacing yours on your own. This includes wearing the appropriate safety gear, such as goggles and work gloves, to protect your eyes and skin from burns and pollution. When you are taking your old battery to a scrap yard, be sure to place it in a container that will ensure it remains in an upright position while in route.

Where to Find a Trusted Auto Salvage Company in Louisville, Kentucky

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 502-804-5605 to sell your junk car in Louisville and its surrounding areas. Not only do we accept all vehicles, regardless of age, make, model, and condition, we also payout the highest returns for junk vehicles in Kentucky. Just accept our offer and we will come pick up your junk car! Contact us today to request a free estimate!