How To Jump-Start Your Car Battery - A Beginner's Guide
Of many terrible things, the most annoying situation is when your car’s battery is dead. The situation gets even worse when you are late for the office or when you plan to go on a first date. You are now helpless and left stranded on the road. Things get worse when there is none to help you out, and you are also unaware of how to jump-start your car. There can be various reasons for your car not starting up. Maybe you left your car’s lights on the previous night, or the battery has drained out because its warranty has ended. There can be endless reasons. But to avoid such scenarios in the future, one must have a thorough knowledge of car batteries, their time, and their functioning. Things get a lot easier when you contact a reliable road assistance provider with in-depth knowledge of cars and their functioning. Even though you know the jump-start procedure, calling a roadside assistance provider is always the best option. They are professionals and can provide great assistance leaving no stone unturned. You can commit a minor mistake that causes great harm to your vehicle. Therefore, to avoid such errors and save your car from extreme damage, one should always rely on an expert.
In this blog, you will read about the common reasons behind car batteries draining out. Also, you will get complete guidance on how to jump-start the vehicle and what essential tools are required in the process of jump-starting the car.
The Common Reasons For Car’s Battery Draining Out
If you take proper care of your car and the battery, then you can go years without having to jump-start your car. Take a look at the following reasons why a car’s battery drains out and follow them to avoid future situations. Some common reasons are:
- When you forget to turn off the car’s headlights after parking.
- When you leave electronic devices charged while your car’s battery is on.
- When you leave the music system on with the key inside the car.
- When the weather conditions are extreme.
- When your car’s battery lifespan is over.
- When the battery is too old to hold a full charge.
Tools Required For Jump-Starting A Car’s Battery
You are stuck somewhere and need assistance jump-starting your car. But you are unaware of the essential tools required for jump-starting a car’s battery. Here is a list of all the vital tools you should always have in your car in an emergency.
- Car Battery
- A Pair Of Jumper Cables
- Car With A Dead Battery
- Car With A Fully Charged Battery
- Protective Eye Gear
- Gloves
- Safety Goggles
Step-by-Step Guide On Jump Starting A Car
The battery is the heart of a vehicle, and therefore, jump-starting a car needs expert assistance. If you are unaware of the procedure for jump-starting a car, follow the following steps to assist you in an emergency.
1. Park Both Cars Near Each Other:
The first step in the jump-start procedure is parking both cars in front of or near each other. It is done to ensure that the distance between the two batteries is as small as possible. Parking the car near each other doesn’t mean that the cars are touching each other. Don’t let the cars touch each other; otherwise, it can cause a dangerous electrical arc between them.
2. Open The Car’s Hood And Check The Battery:
After placing the cars near each other, open the car’s hood and check the placement of the battery. In some vehicles, the battery is located in the front or near the firewall. Whereas in other cars, you will find the battery in the trunk. After locating the battery’s position, identify the positive and the negative terminals. The positive terminal is marked with a plus (+) sign and has a red cable. In contrast, the negative terminal is marked with a minus (-) sign and has a black cable.
3. Put On Safety Gear:
Once you have checked the position of the batteries, now it is time to protect yourself too. Wear safety gloves, goggles, etc., to protect yourself from damage. Inspect the batteries and ensure that there are no cracks, leaks, or damage in the batteries. Check the working car’s batteries and ensure that the cables are tightly fitted to the terminals to avoid any spark or explosion.
4. Untangle The Jumper Cables:
Jumper cables are usually red and black cables with heavy-duty clamps attached to them to connect them to the battery terminals. Before placing the batteries inside the terminals, untangle the cables and ensure that the end of the jumper cables are not in contact with each other once they are connected to the batteries. If the ends of the black and red cables touch each other, then it can cause severe damage to both vehicles. Also, ensure that the ignition in both cars is off and vehicles are in parking or neutral mode.
5. Link The Jumper Cables In The Right Order:
This is an essential step in the jump-starting procedure. Always connect the jumper cables properly to avoid any damage to the vehicle. Connect one end of the red cable to your battery and the other end of the red cable to the battery of the other car. Similarly, connect one end of the black cable to your car battery and the other end of the black cable to the battery of the other car. Ensure that red jump cables are connected to the (+) terminals and black jump cables are connected to the (-) terminals.
6. Start The Car With A Fully Charged Battery:
Once you have connected the red and black jump cables to their respective terminals, start the car with a fully charged battery. Do not give race to the engine. Instead, leave it in on mode for a few minutes. This is done to charge the battery of the dead car. The battery will only get charged if the cables are properly connected to the battery terminals.
7. Start The Car With A Dead Battery:
After waiting a few minutes, try to start the car with a dead battery. If the car doesn’t start at once, turn off the engine and once again check both the red and the black terminals. Ensure that they are not loose or twisted. Then, restart the engine again and keep the car on for a few minutes. It will allow the dead battery to get charged with the working one.
8. Remove The Jumper Cables:
Once the car with a dead battery gets on, the battery is charged now. Now the subsequent step is to remove the jumper cables in reverse order. First, disconnect the black cable from the terminal of the dead car and then from the working car. Now disconnect the red cable from the terminal of the working car and then from the terminal of the dead car. It is done in this order to avoid any short-circuiting.
9. Take A Drive:
Finally, the car is ready for a test drive. First, keep the engine on for 5-10 minutes and then allow the engine to run for a few kilometers to ensure that the battery functions properly. If the car doesn’t run for a few kilometers, it indicates you have a dead battery and need a quick replacement.
Conclusion:
Whether the car’s battery is left on or its warranty has ended, a car owner will sooner or later face this problem. You all take good care of your car and check for battery regularly, but you are not an expert who can predict when your car battery will die and ditch you. Therefore, to avoid such issues, one must be prepared to handle the situation efficiently. To solve this issue of jump-starting your car, Dent Professional LLC has an expert team who can provide instant assistance whenever and wherever you require it. Contact Dent Professional LLC to get the best road assistance. We know it is vital for you to reach your designated place as soon as possible; therefore, we operate round the clock to serve our clients better.
Reference:
Wikihow, R.O.C.C.O. .L.O.V.E.T.E.R.E. (2022, 08th October). How to Jump Start a Car. [Weblog]. Retrieved 3 December 2022, from
https://www.wikihow.com/Jump-Start-a-Car
