How to jump start a car?
Yes, it would be best if you had jumper cables to jump start a car. If your car battery has died, you may be able to use jumper cables to jump start it from some good working vehicle. These jumper cables can help us when the battery problem hits the car, such as low voltage or even dead.
All you need is another working car with a good car battery, then connect the jumper cables to their car battery. As long as you hook up the cables correctly, it should be working. To get more accurate steps to jump start a car in specific needs for your car, you may refer to the owner's manual. But in general, you can do how to jump start a car by these following steps :
I. How to jumpstart a car with another car
Here's how to use jumper cables if you're jump starting your car with the help of another car:
1. Prepare your jumper cables
The first step to do on how to jump start a car is to prepare your jumper cables. Please take out your jumper cables from where it is you placed it inside your car. Do a little check for the jumper cable, clips, insulation, and overall conditions. Make sure your jumper cables are properly used.
2. Park the cars closer
Park the cars closer so the jumper cable can reach both batteries. Place both vehicles in Neutral or Park position and also don't forget to engage parking brakes as well, then shut off the ignition in both cars. Don't forget to pop up the hood on both cars.
3. Attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your weak battery.
Attach and hook up the red clip jumper cable to the positive terminal of your car battery which is the dead or weak battery. A positive terminal battery would be marked with a "+" sign, or "POS", or with red marked, or its bigger dimension than the negative terminal. Then make sure the red clip is attached tightly to the terminal battery.
4. Attach the other red clip to the positive terminal of the good car battery.
Attach the other red clip from jumper cable to the positive terminal of the good car battery and make sure it's tightly attached
5. Attach the black clips to the negative terminal of the good car battery.
Put the black cable jumper, then attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on the good car battery. Make sure the attachment is tightened enough.
6. Attach the last black clip to an unpainted metal surface on your car that isn't near the battery.
Attach the last black clip to an unpainted metal surface on your car, such as an engine hanger, engine block, or car chassis frame. Make sure it's far away from the battery. So, here the proper order for jumper cable attachment should look like
Remember to connect jumper cables properly to ensure safety when we jump start the car with the jumper cables. Read the detailed warning info at the end of this post (point II) when jumpstarting a car.
7. Start the working vehicle and let the engine run for a few minutes.
After the jumper cables are connected right and safe, start the working good car battery and let the engine run and reach an idling engine rpm. Don't use or turn any electrical circuit on this car like headlamps, radio tape, or car air conditioner. If they're ON, then turn it off.
8. Start your vehicle.
Try to start your vehicle. The cable jumper should help your car engine run on in a normal condition. But if it doesn't start, make sure that the cables are properly connected, tightly attached, then try to start your car again.
Read also:- How to choose a jumper cable for car battery?
- My car battery low voltage, what this mean?
- How to tell bad alternator or bad battery problem?
9. Detach the jumper cables.
When the jump start works and your car start's, detach the jumper cables on the opposite step but don't shut off your engine. Let it run for at least 15 minutes to recharge your battery and for battery warning light checking.
If the battery warning lights are off after the engine run, this is a good sign for your car charging system. But, if the battery warning light turns on, you may have a charging system problem and should be checked by a technician or mechanic.
II. When jumpstarting a car always remember to :
- Do not attempt jump starting if the electrolyte fluid is not visible or looks frozen. The battery might split open or explode if the temperature is below the freezing point or if it is not filled to the proper level.
- Make sure the jumper cables and your clothing are clear of the cooling fans and drive belts. Entanglement with the fans or belts can cause serious personal injury.
- Be sure to follow the proper order when connecting the batteries, of: 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 (see the image below)
- Make sure that the connection number 4 is made to the correct designated location (as shown in the illustration above) properly. If the connection is directly made to the negative (-) terminal of the battery, the flammable gases from inside the battery might catch fire and explode, causing personal injury.
- When connecting the jumper cable, do not connect the positive (+) cable to the negative (-) terminal. Sparks can make the battery explode.