How to Jumpstart a Car

Nothing upsets our schedule then when we get in our car and turn on the ignition switch and the car doesn’t start. It doesn’t even click over. Then we try turning on the radio or lights, only to have them not turn on. It is at this point that we realize that the battery is dead and that we’ll have to jumpstart the car. If you are one of the few who own a battery charger and have jumper cables, then this article is not for you. However, if you are like most of us, without the extra battery or charger in the trunk, then keep reading.

It is strongly suggested that you buy jumper cables and keep them in the trunk of your vehicle. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who drive around town without a pair of jumper cables and then have to depend on the kindness of strangers to help them get their car started. A stranger may be the kindest man on earth, but if he doesn’t (or you don’t) have jumper cables, then there is nothing to be done. A good set of jumper cables with a 4 to 8 gauge is recommended.

The first step in jumpstarting your car is to check the battery. If the battery is frozen, BEWARE; do not try to start it, as it may explode on you. If you see cracks in the casing of the battery, then the battery is shot and the only remedy is buying a new one. Batteries that have a greenish, bluish or whitish dust around the battery terminals is a message that the battery is in its last days. You can clean off this “dust” with a wire brush, but use gloves to avoid the dust contacting your skin.

Before that kindly stranger starts connecting the jumper cables, make sure that both car batteries have the same voltage. Make sure that the cars are not touching in any way and that both ignitions are off. Each battery has two terminals, a positive and a negative. The (+) positive terminal is usually red and may have a cover over it. The (-) negative terminal is often uncovered and with just a plain black cable.

Here is the order in which you should attach the cables:

• The (+) positive terminal of the dead battery should be the first one attached to one end of the jumper cable.
• The other end of the same cable should then be connected to the (+) positive terminal of the good battery.
• Grab on end of the other cable and attach it to the (-) negative terminal of the starting car.
• Then attach the other end of that same cable to the car with the dead battery. It should be attached to the engine block. You should not attach this end of the battery cable to the dead batteries negative terminal.
• Then have the car giving the jumpstart turn on their ignition. Give it a few minutes and then start the car with the dead battery. If it doesn’t work the first time, try re-attaching the jumper cables more securely and try jumpstarting again.
• Finally, remove the cables in the reverse order of putting them on, meaning the engine block end is first and the good battery (+) positive terminal end is last.

Photo Credits: bdjsb7

This post involves:

battery charger, battery terminals, car batteries, jumper cables, negative terminal

... and focuses on:

Car Tips, Jumpstart, Starter System

Posted by How To Car on January 20, 2012 in Car Tips, Jumpstart, Starter System. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.