Know how to jump start your car if you want to avoid professional services and save yourself the cost of calling in a mechanic. This process should be straightforward if you follow these simple steps.
Your battery could easily be damaged when jumping start it incorrectly, so here are the steps for safely jump starting it: Positioning a booster car, connecting cables in reverse order and disassembling them afterwards, as well as driving for 20 minutes afterward to recharge the battery.
1. Check the Battery
Dead batteries often seem to strike at the worst times, but don’t panic: with just a few simple steps you can jump start your vehicle and be back on the road in no time.
Before commencing, ensure both vehicles are off and their parking brakes set, then disconnect any electrical devices such as radio/CD players or satellite navigation systems from both cars before lifting the hoods to access their batteries.
Connect one end of a red jumper cable to the positive terminal (+) on both dead batteries, with its other end attached to the positive terminal of an operating battery. Connect the black jumper cable’s other end to an unpainted metal component on the engine block of the dead car such as a bolt or bracket for easy connection.
2. Turn Off the Ignition
Your car’s battery provides electrical energy that allows your starter motor to use mechanical energy to start your engine, but if your battery discharges completely you may be unable to start it – at which point a booster may help jump-start it for you. Before beginning use be sure to put on rubber gloves and safety goggles to protect from battery acid leakage and consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions relating to your car model.
Position the vehicles close together and ensure they face each other, bumper-to-bumper (if possible). Shut off both ignitions before taking these next steps: remove keys from both cars, set parking brakes, open hoods of both, locate battery packs (typically found under hood, but sometimes found in trunk) and open trunks if applicable (on some models they may also be located there).
3. Attach the Jumper Cables
Dead car batteries can ruin any day, but learning to jump start your vehicle yourself could save both time and money. The process is easy but requires proper preparation with jumper cables and another driver willing to assist.
Connect the black clamp from the working car to the negative post of a dead battery, followed by connecting its red clamp to its positive post. Finally, secure its other end onto an unpainted metal surface of the boosting vehicle.
Make sure that you use high-quality cables made of either fully copper or copper-clad aluminum for optimal conductivity, with clearly marked polarity markings to avoid mishaps.
4. Start the Working Car
Starter motors on cars convert electrical current from their battery into mechanical energy that cranks the engine, but if your starter motor fails to turn over the crank it could be due to either a dead battery or an improper ignition switch.
Jump-starting can be extremely dangerous if not performed properly. Any incorrect connections could damage the battery and create sparks which could result in an explosion. Always follow the steps outlined in your owner’s manual or call upon professional roadside service providers for assistance when jump-starting.
Make sure your vehicle is equipped with jumper cables as a precautionary measure, but politely decline offers of assistance from strangers; only accept assistance from trusted friends or family. If experiencing problems when trying to start up your car, inspect for warning signs such as visible fluid leaks or dashboard warning lights.
5. Remove the Jumper Cables
Jump-starting a car should always be performed according to proper procedures; failure to do so could potentially damage both batteries, costing both you and the dealership money in repairs. With proper implementation, battery damage can be avoided and money saved.
Start by turning both cars’ engines off, opening both hoods (or boots if the battery is located there) and connecting one end of a red jump lead with the positive terminal on a flat battery (typically marked with a plus (+) symbol).
Red jump leads should be connected to either the negative terminal of your booster car’s battery, or to any grounded metal component such as its engine block. Connecting both cables together after attaching one increases safety by reducing spark risk. Finally, unplug them all in reverse order for easy storage.
6. Let the Car Run for a Few Minutes to Charge the Battery
Once the car starts and you have disconnected its jumper cables, allow it to run for several minutes so that its battery charges. Before turning off the car, ensure the handbrake is on and neutral or park (P) selected on an automatic transmission vehicle and that all warning lights have extinguished before turning it off.
An optimally maintained gas-powered car should utilize its alternator to recharge its battery naturally, saving both money and headaches in the process. If this doesn’t occur, there may be larger issues with your electrical system that need addressing immediately – or maybe replacing the battery is in order, in which case first figure out why it died to save yourself further hassles later on.
7. Turn Off the Car
Although most people can quickly jump start a car, few know how to turn it off properly – an essential step that keeps the battery from draining further and reduces wear on engine components.
There are various methods available to you for disabling a car without having to remove its hood. One option is to locate and unplug any fuses labeled “ignition” or “fuel pump.” Alternatively, obstruction of exhaust pipes might prevent the car from starting.
Jump-starting a car can be dangerous if not executed correctly, and follows these steps to do it safely: Position both vehicles close enough so the cables reach, yet do not touch. Connect them in their proper order.
