A jump start is a technique used to restart a car that has a drained battery. You jump-start a car by using jumper cables to connect the car directly to a working car or to an alternate power source. By placing the two batteries in parallel, you can provide enough electricity to start the car and recharge the depleted battery at the same time. A drain on your car's battery can occur if it has not been driven for more than two weeks.
Jump-starting a car allows the car owner to repair the battery of their own vehicle, so they can start it themselves.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what jump-starting is, let's get down to business.
Prep
- Park the cars close to one another but without touching. The bumpers should be out of contact with each other entirely.
- Turn off both vehicles completely, including lights, radio, and other electrical components.
- No smoking! Smoking near the battery produces explosive gases that can cause a fire or explosion if ignited by a spark from the jump starter cables.
Attach
Before beginning make sure that the red cable does not touch any metal surface of the car.
- Hook the red (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
- Attach the red (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the working battery.
- Clamp the black (-) to the negative terminal of the working battery.
- Attach the black (-) to an unpainted metal surface of the dead car.
Note: Make sure the clamp is firmly attached to the battery post.
Turn on the engine
Start the engine of the working car. Let it run for a few minutes.
Remove in the reverse order
You should always disconnect the black clamp first when removing the cables from both cars. Always remove this red clamp last before disconnecting both ends of your jumper cables from their respective terminals at both ends.
Run the car
After disconnecting the cables from the engine, restart the dead car. It's best to drive around for at least 15 minutes after jumping the car. If that is not possible, just let the engine run for a few minutes.
Conclusion
If your car's battery dies, don't stress! With a jump starter and these steps, you'll be able to get your engine running in no time. Always remember to use caution when handling jumper cables and batteries, as they can be dangerous if not used properly.
If you need a car battery replacement, we invite you to bring your vehicle to Pro Drive today!