How To Jump Start a Car Battery?

Start a Car Battery

Nothing is worse than finding your car battery dead as you’re running late for work in the morning, or forgetting to switch off the lights when you’re out on a date and your car won’t move out of the parking lot. These incidents can happen with any car owner at any time and anywhere. So, the best solution to get out of this matter is that you know how to jump-start a vehicle.

Your car may have trouble starting for several reasons, but most of the time it’s because the battery has drained due to something sucking up the battery power when it shouldn’t have. However, it is important to understand that not all “why my car won’t move” issues can be directly linked to your car battery that needs a little love; they can also result from more serious problems that may require immediate expert attention.

While one cannot do much if his car is experiencing a major mechanical failure, in such situations, it’s best to call your Road Side Assistance provider. Though in case, if your car is not moving due to the battery draining out, you can easily jump-start your vehicle and be back on the road right on time.

Like every other thing, there are some do’s and don’t of jump-starting a car.  So, let’s discuss and understand a few things about how to jump-start your car.

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How To Jump Start a Car Battery

In either case, if the car has an electronic ignition system or it is an alternative fuel vehicle, jumper cables could damage it.

Step 1: Take Safety Precautions

Before the start of the process, make sure that your clothes and any kind of jewelry are not interfering during the procedure. It would be best if you use protective gloves and goggles right before the process, and keep loose hair and tied clothing. Also, Remember not to smoke near the car batteries and to stay careful of your surroundings

Step 2: Check and Clean Your Vehicle Jumper Cables

Inspect the connectors and wires for rust and make sure they are in good working order. Ensure the clamps connected to the car batteries are cleaned before they are attached. Even unused clamps will likely develop gunk if they have been sitting in your garage or your car trunk for a long time. Moreover, Cables typically come with portable jump starters. So, Be sure to check these out.

Step 3: Park The Car For Jump Start Near Your Working Vehicle

Park the car next to your car. Remove both hoods and secure them. Ensure that the vehicle batteries are close enough for the cables to reach easily for the procedure and not interfere with the moving parts under the hood.

After that, switch off both the cars, and set the automatic gear to park. Turn off both cars, and set the automatic gear to park. To park a manual transmission vehicle, select neutral. Press the parking brake on both cars.

You will not need another vehicle if you are using a portable jump starter. You just need to place it somewhere secure.

Step 4: Identify Your Cables

The important part is to carefully connect the jumper cables to the correct battery terminals. Connect the red connector clamp with the positive terminal/post, while the black connector clamp will connect to the negative terminal/post. The positive terminal/post of a battery is identified by the plus (+) sign, while the negative terminal/post is represented by the minus (-) sign. Make sure you follow these steps carefully to stay safe.

Step 5: Carefully Connect Your Cables

Connect the red clamp with the positive terminal of the dead car battery, denoted by a sign(+). Whereas, attach the other end of the red clamp to the positive terminal of the working vehicle. Just like the same, connect the black clamp to the negative terminal of the working vehicle, denoted by a sign (-).

Make sure the other black jumper cable clamp is connected to a good ground, such as a metal bracket so that there are no sparks close to the battery when jumping. Some vehicles come with a large steel or brass grounding stud that provides good grounding. Make sure the connection is properly grounded.

Step 6: ReCheck Your Cable Connections

Check to see if all the jumper cables are securely connected with the clamps. It is also important that the jumper cables remain straight and not twisted.

Note: Ensure the cables don’t interfere with the moving parts of the engines.

Step 7: Start The Engine of The Working Vehicle

Boost the battery by increasing the engine speed a bit. Afterward, try starting the car. It may be necessary to run the working vehicle for a few minutes if this does not work. It will give the dead battery a new charge, assuming that it can still be repaired.

Here is when you turn on your jump starter if you’re using one. Use the settings as instructed to ensure the jump start works.

Step 8: Try to Start The Dead Car Battery Of Your Vehicle

Try to start the dead battery again. Start the engine immediately. If it gets started right away, then great! Let the vehicle run for a few minutes. Turn off the jump starter after the dead car has been running for a while.

At first, carefully remove the negative cable and then the positive cable from both cars. In case you are using a jump start then remove the one. Once the cables have been removed, drive your live car directly to a reliable car shop for getting a new battery or to a mechanic for a service.

If your car doesn’t start right away, then try starting it again at least two more times. Attempt the second try after three minutes of the first attempt and the final attempt after 10 minutes. The time your car again fails to start after that long time, then your car battery is most likely dead. Any further attempts will likely damage the starter and associated components. Next, we will see if the battery is still functional by testing it and charging it.

Wrap Up

Check if the car shop provides free battery charging and testing at their local store. Moreover, they also tested the alternator and starter. Even if the battery was low and tested OK after being recharged, another issue could exist, such as an alternator not charging or slippage in the alternator drive belt and/or tensioner belt.

For whatever issues you might have, the repair shop can test these components for free and provide you with trustworthy advice and all of the parts and tools you need to get the job done.

If you follow the steps outlined here, you should be able to jump-start your car. When it doesn’t, the battery is dead or something else is wrong with the vehicle.