Is your car battery failed when you need it the least? It is okay, you will be back on the road in a few moments with only two jumper cables and another car. Car jump starting is one of the most basic skills that every motorist should know and we will take you through the whole jump starting process in the guide. With the help of these few steps, you will be able to jump start your car easily.
What is Jump Starting a Car?
Jump starting refers to the procedure of connecting the battery of a car to the battery of another in order to supply power to the battery of the car with the dead battery. This is done by linking jumper cables between the good battery and the dead battery, which gives the battery sufficient charge to boot up the engine. The alternator will be restarted when the engine starts to charge the battery of the car once again.
Why Does a Car Battery Die?
It is appropriate to understand why car batteries die before knowing how to jump start a car. Some common reasons include:
- Leaving lights on: You may be running out of charge by leaving your headlights on and your interior lights on overnight.
- Old battery: Batteries do not last long and they may die within a few years of usage.
- Extreme temperatures: Hot and cold weather may reduce the life of a battery or make it incapable of functioning
- Alternator problems: In case the alternator does not work then the engine will not restore the battery.
Tools You’ll Need to Jump Start a Car
The following are some of the requirements that you will need before you can start:
- Jumper Cables: It will require a pair of jumper cables longer than the distance between the vehicles.
- A Second Car: This car must have a full-battery and it must be near to the jump starting car.
- Gloves and Safety Glasses: It is good to use gloves and safety glasses in order to protect oneself.
Step-by-Step Guide to Jump Starting Your Car
Now that you have information of what you require, it is time to look into the process of jump starting your car in a safe manner.
1. Arrange the Vehicles in the right places.
- Pull up the car with the good battery and position it near the dead car battery. The cars must be parked in the state of PARK or Neutral and the parking brakes should be on.
- Before getting down to connecting the cables, ensure that both cars are switched off.
2. Identify Battery Terminals
- Access the hoods of the two automobiles and find their batteries. The battery includes two terminals, one being positive ( + ), and the other being negative ( – ). The positive terminal is normally denoted with red cover or with a + symbol whereas the negative is normally black and denoted with a – symbol.
3. Connect the Jumper Cables
- Cable to positive of dead battery: To begin with, you will need to take one end of the red cable jumper and connect it to the positive post of the dead battery.
- Red cable, to the positive terminal of the good battery: Connect the other end of the red cable into the positive side of the charged battery.
- Black cable to negative terminal of good battery:Now make the connection with the black jumper cable to the negative terminal of the charged battery.
- Black cable to unpainted metal: At last, connect the other end of black cable to an unpainted metal surface of the engine bay of the car with the dead battery. This is used as a ground connection and minimized the chances of sparks around the battery.
4. Start the Donor Car
- Connect the good battery-powered car and start the engine and allow it to run a couple of minutes. This will enable the battery to pass part of the power to the dead battery.
5. Start the Car with the Dead Battery
- Attempt to start the car with the dead battery after some minutes. Unless it starts then wait a couple of minutes and repeat. Always make sure to not crank the engine more than 10-15 seconds at a time so as not to strangle the starter motor.
6. Disconnect the Jumper Cables
To begin disconnection of the jumper cables in the reverse order, after the car with a dead battery is started (activated):
- Take out the black cable of the dead battery car unpainted metal surface.
- Take off the black cable connected on the negative end of the good battery.
- Take out the red cable of the good battery on the positive end.
- Lastly, take out the red cable in the positive terminal of the dead battery.
7. Let the Engine Run
- Then leave the car with the dead battery running no less than 20-30 minutes so that the alternator can charge the battery.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Jump Starting a Car
It may seem simple to jump start a car but there are few mistakes that can be committed by drivers. Avoid these common mistakes:
- Cabling different parts in the reverse sequence: It is always important to ensure that positive cables are connected first followed by the negative ones. This may lead to sparks and breakage of the electrical system of the car by reversing the order.
- Lack of protection gear: Safety glasses and gloves are to be used at all times in case of sparks and acid leakages.
- Failure to allow the car to run sufficiently: once jump starting is done allow enough time to the engine to restore power to the battery. Brief journeys will not fill up the battery.
- Failure to check battery: In case the car is not starting after trying it a few times, then the battery can be invalid or there is a different problem.
When Should You Call a Professional?
Car jump starting is a simple solution but there are occasions when one may prefer to get professional assistance. Here’s when you might need to:
- The battery does not retain charge: In case the car dies several times after being jump-started, the battery may be damaged or even be too old.
- The car does not start after many tries: In cases where your car does not start even after you have tried several jump starting, it may not necessarily be the battery. It may be a problem with the alternator or starter and so on.
- Sparks or smoke: In case there are sparks or a burning smell when jump starting the car, do not continue but call a mechanic.
Tips for Maintaining Your Car Battery
It is always good to prevent a dead battery and not to have to jump start your car. The following are some of the tips that can be used to maintain your battery in good shape:
- Switching off accessories when starting the car: Turning on and using electronics such as air conditioning or radio on when starting a car is not advisable.
- Test battery terminals frequently: Wipe off any corrosion on the battery terminals so as to have good connection.
- Test the battery: You should have your battery checked periodically especially during or before winter or in the extreme weather.
Commute: Sometimes long distances do not allow the alternator to charge the battery to its full capacity. Make long drives with your car every now and then.
How can one tell whether to jump start or not to jump start my car?
When your car does not start, or you hear the clicking of the key when turning it on, or when the car lights and other indicators in the dashboard are pale, you have a dead or a low battery. These are the symptoms that you may very well require a jump start.
Am I able to jump start a car all by myself?
Technically, it is possible, but it is a lot safer and easier to have a second vehicle to assist you. You will have to have another vehicle with a full charge of battery to provide your car with a boost.
What is the duration of leave time when jump starting the cars?
Once the cables have been connected allow the donor car to run between 5 to 10 minutes to transfer power to the dead battery. The next step is to attempt to start the car using the dead battery. In case it does not start wait a bit and restart again.
Would it be possible to jump start a car with a broken battery?
In case the battery is disrupted or leaky, do not make any attempt at jumping starting it. It would be safer to change the battery or refer a mechanic to further help.
Conclusion
A common skill that is handy when one does not want to get stuck is knowing how to jump start a car. With the help of these steps mentioned in this guide, you will have an opportunity to revive the dead battery in a safe way and be on the road within minutes. Always keep in mind that you should be safe and consider all the possible measures, and when you are not sure, or feel not comfortable, it is better to call a specialist. Given a good treatment, your car battery can take up to a long time before it collapses, thus saving you the trouble of jump starting in future.
