‘I’m a mechanic – drivers can start a car with a dead battery with this tip’

One of YouTube’s most recognised has advised drivers on what to do if their vehicle refuses to start after the .

With various parts of the country hit by snow and ice over the past few weeks, many drivers are beginning to return to the roads only to find that their vehicle is struggling to start.

In , the professional mechanic highlighted that this is most likely due to the .

He explained: “Today I’m going to show you why cars often won’t start if they sit for a long time and how you can get them going again. Number one, of course, is a dead battery.

“If you turn the key and it goes ‘click click’ jump start it. All batteries in modern cars drain a bit whilst sitting because of computer usage, but if you get a little jump box like this, it’s very easy to jump start.”

Whilst car batteries are often capable of lasting for 10 years or more, the chemical reactions that take place inside slow down when it is exposed to low temperatures, meaning it may struggle to start – particularly if the vehicle features computer systems that run while the engine is switched off.

If a vehicle has a dead battery, the driver will likely need to jump start the engine by connecting it up to the battery of a working vehicle in order to gain power.

Drivers who do not have another vehicle to use could also invest in a battery charging unit, which adds power from the mains over several hours, or via a quicker yet more expensive jump box.

Later in the video, Scotty also suggested that drivers who encounter a vehicle that attempts to start but fails to fire up can use a small amount of starting fluid.

He advised: “But, let’s say your car cranks over but won’t start. Get a little bit of starting fluid. You can crack the air filter open, spray a little fluid inside, and it might start up and run fine.

“But, of course, all of this advice is useless unless you have all of this stuff to hand, so put it in your [boot] and leave it there for emergencies!”

Available for around £5 per can at motoring shops, starter fluid is a flammable liquid that can be sprayed in order to make it easier for the engine to start, particularly when it is exposed to cold weather.

Drivers determine the location of their air filter and spray a small amount of the fluid onto it from a distance of about 20cm before attempting to start the engine.

Nevertheless, drivers who are unsure about what they are doing should consult advice from a mechanic first to avoid causing damage to their vehicle.