If you’re ever stranded on the side of the road with a dead car battery, there’s one surefire way to get it going again - and that’s by bleeding off the battery. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open the car door and step out onto the pavement.
  2. Hold onto the battery terminals with your hands so you don’t lose them (or worse, drop them).
  3. Pour a pot of boiling water onto the terminals, then close and hold the door open until water has boiled off (it should take about 10 minutes).
  4. Remove any excess water with a slotted spoon or a paper towel, then place the terminals back on the battery cover.
  5. Close and hold open the door until battery is fully charged (about 2 hours).