A Simple Guide on How to Jumpstart a Car

Your car battery is an essential part of your vehicle, and when it runs out, you will not be able to start the car. Car batteries, at one point, are unable to work because of a couple of reasons. Here are a few cases that may cause your car battery to drain completely.

  • When a car is parked, its electrical systems could end up using all the battery power.
  • Batteries with loose connections and cables will not charge well, leading to a low amount of stored power.
  • Headlights or interior lights are the worst enemies to our batteries. If accidentally left on overnight, the lights will drain the batteries by morning.
  • A faulty alternator or charging system will leave the battery no chance of surviving longer hours of use.
  • Poor maintenance will lead to the battery becoming inefficient over time.
  • Extreme weather temperatures deplete a car's battery life.

Before jumpstarting your vehicle, you need to be sure that the battery is dead and nothing else is wrong with the vehicle's engine block. If a dead battery dies, the engine will not start or crank, and the lights will not come on. The car will not jump start.

When a car doesn't start, you need a few pieces of equipment that would come in handy at a moment of need. A suitable jumper cable with clearly marked terminals at each end. Power needs to come from somewhere to bring the vehicle back up and running. A jump starter kit should be in everyone's vehicle for moments like these. For a case in which the starter is unavailable, another car will come in handy. It is time to get the battery up and running.

10 Steps on How to Jump Start a Car

The following steps will help you go about jumpstarting your car the right way.

1. Carefully Read the Owner's Manual

Your car will come with an owner's manual. Know which of the two clamps is negative and which one is positive. Some cars are not recommended for jump-starting because of their sensitive circuitry. Be sure your car is capable of handling the charge that will be coming in during jump starting.

2. Ask for Help

If you do not have a starter kit, you will need to get power from another vehicle. You can call the AAA, a friend, or flag-down motorists who will bed kind enough to give you roadside assistance. The AAA are professionals who can come to your home and will give the best solution for your problem.

3. Check Car Batteries

Check whether the donor car has enough voltage in its battery before connecting the two batteries. Your battery and your donor should have a matching voltage system to avoid damages and short-circuiting. If the cars have compatible batteries, you are good to go.

4. Align Cars

The donor car and your car need to have their engine close to yours. Some engines are located at the front of the car, while others are located at the trunk. Having the engines close together will make it possible for the jumper cables to connect the battery terminals safely. Ideally, cars should be facing each other.

5. Open Each Hood

Make sure both cars have their hood open and safely secured for access to both battery terminals.

6. Switch Off Each Car

You should turn off the ignition for both vehicles with their gears on neutral or parking and engage the parking brake for each cars.

7. Attach Clips

The red clip is the positive end, and the black clip is the negative end and is both connected to a jumper cable. Attach the alligator clips on the terminals in the following order.

  • Connect the Red clip to the positive (+) terminal of the dead car.
  • Connect the Red clip to the Positive (+) terminal of the donor car.
  • Connect the Black clip to the negative (-) terminal of the donor car.
  • Connect the other end of the black clip to an unpainted metal part of the car, like the metal struts holding the hood.

8. Start the Donor Car

The deal is to make sure the battery is charged enough to be able to jump a car. By letting the donor car run, some charges will be taken up by the dead battery. Make sure each jumper cable clamp is well secured on the battery terminals. The more the donor engine will run, the more the dead engine will pick up the charge.

9. Test for Charge

Jump starting a car will depend on the availability of charge in the terminals. Before trying to turn on the ignition, one good idea is to switch on the car's interior lights. If they come on, there is some charge in the battery, and the cables are doing great.

10. Jump Start!

Once you know that there is enough charge on every battery terminal, Turn on the ignition. If you follow the steps correctly, the car should turn on, and you should be on the road soon.

If the car does not turn on after keenly following each step, call for professional assistance. Maybe there could be a problem with the alternator or the battery, and only a trained person could help.

After Jump Starting

After jump-starting a car, you should remove the cables from the positive terminal and the battery's negative terminal one by one. You should remove the jumper cables in the reverse order in which they were placed on each clamp.

  • The black clip from the naked metallic part.
  • The black clip from the negative terminal of the once dead battery.
  • The red clip from the positive terminal of the donor car.
  • The red clip from the positive terminal of the dead battery.

The reverse order has to be observed. Once the jumper cables are removed, leave the car running for at least 20 minutes to bring the dead battery fully back to life.

Safety Tips While You Jump Start a Car

  • Follow every single guide on the owner's manual.
  • It would be best if you did not use damaged jumper cables to jump-start a car. A loose or faulty cable may damage the battery.
  • Buy equipment from an authorized auto parts store to ensure the quality and safety of your car.
  • You should not wear any loose clothing when jumpstarting because the engine has revolving parts that could easily cause an accident.
  • Whenever you want to jump start your car on the road, you should warn other drivers and vehicles about the situation using hazard signs. The sign could alert someone who can be of help.
  • Each clamp should be clean and not rusted or old.
  • The battery should not be dry whenever you are trying to jump start a car.
  • Cables should be matched correctly in red and black to avoid accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it Safe to Jump Start a Hybrid Car With a diesel car?

While it is possible to start a hybrid car with a diesel car, it is not at all advised. The circuitry of electric cars does not have the same voltage as their diesel counterparts. Connecting the two may lead to a battery getting spoilt.

2. How Often Should I Change My Car Battery?

A car battery is safe to use for up to three years and not more, advisably. The batteries become unreliable over time.

3. Is it Possible To Jumpstart a Car without a cable?

Yes, it is. A stretch down a road or a few friends to help you push the car while you work the clutch and the ignition will possibly start the car.