How To Jump Start A Car Using Jumper Cables
Picture the scenario! Maybe you’re trying to start your car and then discover your car’s battery is dead or not functioning properly! This frustrating situation can make you devastated, especially if you are in a hurry. Starting the car on is an important function of your car’s battery. Thus, a car with a dysfunctional battery is pretty much useless. However, having a pair of jumper cables can make your car alive!
With the help of Jumper Cables, you can jump-start your car which sometimes does the trick to solve all your battery problems, or at least, get your car started so that you can go to the nearest auto mechanic shop to troubleshoot and find out what the main problem is. That’s why getting a set of Jumper Cables in advance is a wise move. Hopefully, you may never need it, but if you do, it can be a lifesaver.
Aside from purchasing a good pair of Jumper / Auto Booster Cables, you must also know how to use them. You may cause an accident if you do not follow the appropriate instructions, putting both your life and your vehicle in danger. As a result, you should understand how to use these cables.
You will need the user manual, jumper cables, a portable jump starter, or another vehicle with a fully charged battery to jump-start your car. It is important to take precautions and do the task correctly and safely since an inaccurate jump start might be disastrous.
Read the user manual thoroughly to learn where the battery is placed and to check for any jump-starting instructions. Also, make sure the jumper battery has a compatible voltage system.
Steps To Jump Start Your Car
Once everything is in position, proceed as follows to jump-start the car:
- Place the vehicle serving as a jumper near the dead vehicle so that the jumper wires may connect the two batteries easily. Make sure the vehicles are at a safe distance from each other.
- Remove the keys and make sure the ignitions in both cars are switched off and the parking brakes are set.
- Locate the batteries in both cars and remove any plastic covers or caps that are on the battery terminals.
- Determine the positive (red) and negative (black) terminals of each battery. If they're clean and free of corrosion, you're good to go.
- Attach one end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery (with a + symbol) and the other end to the positive terminal of the jumper battery.
- Connect the black end of the wire to the negative terminal while facing the good battery. Returning to the vehicle with the dead battery, attach the last black wire clip to a flat, unpainted metal area on the car's body.
- Start the booster car and leave the engine running for a few minutes after checking that the jumper wires are safe from any moving engine parts to provide enough time to charge the dead battery.
- Finally, start the car that was jump-started. Keep the engine running for 15-20 minutes if it works.
- Remove the jumper cables in the reverse direction that they were connected (starting with the black clamp).
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Restart the jump-started car and take a short drive for the battery to regain sufficient charge.
Battery Tips If Your Car Doesn’t Jump-Start
If your car doesn't jump-start or if it dies immediately after being charged, you may need to replace the battery. However, before you spend money on a new battery, diagnose the problem to ensure it isn't a more serious issue:
- If you try to start the vehicle, you may only hear a clicking sound. In this instance, your battery is most likely good, but your starter may be faulty.
- If you can turn on your car's electrical equipment, such as the radio and light, but if your engine still won't start, you may have a problem with your ignition switch, starter, or fuses. A fully depleted battery may be the source of the problem.
- If you can jump-start the car, but it dies soon after you go on the road, then it's possible that you have a faulty alternator.