How To Jumpstart a Car

As a car owner, knowing how to jump a car can save you from the humiliating inconveniences of a car that won’t start. A dying battery is one of the main culprits of a car failing to start, especially if it has gone on for some years. With the right equipment, jump-starting your car is straightforward and can get your vehicle back on the road in a few minutes. 

To get started, you need a booster cable, also called jumper cable, to connect your dead car’s battery to another car’s battery with a full charge. Here’s a step-by-step guide on the right way to jump a car.

Park Both Cars Within the Jumper Cable Reach

Position your car near another one with a fully charged battery so they are within the jumper cable range without touching each other. If the battery is in the backseat or trunk, find a suitable position for the car with the charged battery.

Once in position, make sure you shut off the ignition of both cars and set the emergency brakes. Also, remember to turn off all other car electronic accessories, including radio and climate control.

Find the Battery Terminals

With the hood raised, locate the positive and the negative terminals to connect the jumper cables. The positive terminal usually has a red cap, which makes it easier to locate. If you experience difficulties finding it, refer to the car’s manual to locate them.

Some cars have extended remote metal posts for easier access to the battery when boosting or jump-starting. Before jump-starting, check the posts for a greenish or white coating and remove it with an aluminum foil or wire brush. Don’t use your bare hands, as it can irritate your skin. Also, don’t jump-start the battery if it’s leaking or cracked.

Connect the Jumper Terminals in the Correct Sequence

Jumper cables have a pair of red and black clamps at both ends. Attach the red clamps at the positive terminals of the battery and the black clamps at the negative posts.

• Start by attaching one of the red clamps to the positive terminal of the discharged battery. Then, attach the red clamp on the other end to the positive terminal of the booster’s car’s battery.
• Clip one of the black clamps to the booster car’s battery’s negative terminal, and attach the other black clamp to the negative terminal of the discharged battery. 

You can also attach the second black clamp to an unpainted metallic part of the car engine, e.g., the bracket or the grounding bolt. Ensure the spring-loaded claps are correctly attached to the terminals, as an improper attachment can damage the car’s electrical system or cause an injury.

Jump-Start the Car

Ensure the booster cables are not in contact with any moving parts of the engine and start the engine of the booster car. Go ahead and start the engine of the car with the dead battery. 

If the engine doesn’t turn on immediately, you may need to give it a few minutes for the battery to build enough charge. You can increase the idle speed of the booster car to facilitate faster charge buildup.

Disconnect the Jumper Cables

After the car engine is up and running again, it’s time to disconnect the jumper cable. The disconnection procedure is a reverse of the attachment order. 

Start by disconnecting the negative clamp connected to the car you jumped, followed by the negative clamp attached to the booster car. Then, detach the positive clamp on the booster car, and lastly, disconnect the positive clamp from the vehicle you jump-started.

Once the car’s engine starts running, drive it around for 20-30 minutes for the alternator to charge the battery. If you turn the engine off and the car cannot start on its own, requiring another jump-start, the battery could have some problems and need replacement.

Get Your Car Running Again

By carefully following these guidelines, you can have your car running quickly. Remember, when attaching or removing the jumper cable from the battery terminals, the metal clamps shouldn’t touch each other, as they could destroy the car’s electric system. If you need help jump-starting the car or running diagnostics to determine the cause of the problem, contact us for a quick and precise service. 

Categorised in: Auto Shop

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