How to Jump Start a Car

There are many causes to a battery going flat – these include leaving lights on too long, battery age, extreme temperatures, and more.

So, with various ways for your car’s battery to go flat, it can be concluded that these factors happening will only increase the commonality of flat car batteries.

When or if this ever happens to you, it is important to know how to bring your car battery back to life. How do you jump start a car you may ask? Let’s explore that today and find out how to go about doing it.

What You Will Need

To start, there are some tools that are both essential and recommended/optional to get your car jump started.

Jumper Cables(also known as jump leads)

Firstly and most importantly, jumper cables are a necessity to help jump start your car. Jump leads are simple to use and are extremely convenient to have in hand just in case your battery does indeed become flat.

Another Vehicle with a Working Battery

Another vehicle beside yours is another necessity when your car’s battery is flat. Ideally, the car next to yours will have at least the same voltage battery as your flat battery which is typically 12-volts.

Safety Equipment

It is highly recommended that you have safety equipment to protect you from potential sparks or battery acid. The safety gear required would be safety glasses and gloves which will keep you as protected as possible.

Vehicle Handbook (Optional)

Having a vehicle handbook to refer to any situation with your car is never a bad thing – these may include instructions regarding the vehicle’s batteries and instructions on jump starting your car.

Step-by-step Guide

Gather Appropriate Tools and Other Vehicle

As outlined above, there are tools you will need to have to ensure your car’s battery gains power again – these include jumper cables and another car right next to yours.

Connect the Red Leads

The jump cables will need to be connected to both your car and the vehicle next to you. Firstly, grab one red clamp and connect it to the positive (+) terminal on the working car battery. Once this is done, connect the other red clamp to the positive (+) terminal on the dead battery.

Connect the Black Leads

Now we grab the black jump cables. One black clamp will need to be connected to the negative (-) terminal of the good battery, with the other black clamp being connected to a piece of solid metal away from the battery on the car with the dead battery.

Start the Engine

Once you have the leads connected, wait 3-5 minutes before turning on any engines. After waiting for a short while, turn on the engine of the car with the working battery – wait for 1 minute before turning on the flat battery vehicle.

Leave Engines to Run

Leave both car’s engines running with the jumper cables attached for about 10 minutes.

Remove Jumper Cables

After that time, safely remove cables from both idle cars’ batteries once both car engines have been turned off – make sure to take the black clamps off first, then proceed to remove the red cables.

Leave Car Running

Once cables are removed, leave the engine of the car with the flat battery running for around 20 minutes. Once this time has passed, take the car on a half-an-hour drive to allow the battery to fully charge.

What if my car won’t start after a jump?

If your car doesn’t start after a jump, check the cable connections and ensure they are properly attached. Wait a few more minutes and try again.

If the battery is too weak or faulty, it may not hold a charge.

Other issues, such as a bad alternator or starter, could also be the cause. If the car still won’t start, seek professional help.

Is it safe to jump-start a car in the rain?

Yes, it is generally safe, but take precautions. Avoid touching metal parts, ensure secure cable connections, and keep the jumper cables dry to prevent short circuits.

Drive Safely

Once you have driven safely for that timeframe, your car’s battery should be fully charged and ready to go. Please note that it is recommended to avoid using electrical accessories such as the radio, air conditioning, phone chargers, or headlights (if headlights are not necessary), as they will use more electrical power and may slow the recharging process.

If the battery is 3-5 years old, you may require a battery replacement since the battery will be more susceptible to not holding charge.

If you are unsure on what to do next regarding your battery if there are still issues persisting, please consult a professional to help you with your next steps.