How To Jump Start A Car

A dead car battery is one of the most common reasons why a car won’t start. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be able to use jumper cables to jump-start your car from another vehicle with a working battery or via a portable battery pack. We’ve taken a look at the steps behind each one, so you don’t get caught out in future.

👉 Before you start
👉 What you'll need 
👉 Safety tips
👉 How to jump start your car with cables
👉 How to jump start a car with a portable battery
👉 Conclusion
👉 Car battery FAQs

Firstly, how do you know if you need to jump-start it? If any of the following things are happening, you probably need to jump start your battery.

Loss of power to car/electronics. If you’re turning your key in the ignition and nothing is happening, it probably means your battery is dead. This is also the case if none of your car electricals are working (headlights, radio, AC). 

Cranking the engine. Another common battery-related problem is when the engine cranks as you turn the key in the ignition, but it refuses to start. The engine will make a chugging sound as you try to get your car started, but you’ll be unable to actually turn the engine on. 

On and off again. One day your engine is running smoothly, the next it won’t start. If you’re having ongoing problems that make your car unreliable, it will mean that either your battery terminals are loose, broken, corroded, or calcified or that you have a parasitic draw. Which means you’ll need to jump start you car or call a mechanic.  

Before You Start

Before getting started, make sure there are no naked flames near the battery. This goes without saying, but is a really important safety measure. Remove any metal jewellery that could get near the battery, turn the ignition off, and make sure the battery isn’t damaged.

What You’ll Need  

• Jumper cables.  

• Another vehicle with a working battery .

• Gloves (optional).

Safety Tips  

• Make sure both vehicles are turned off and that their keys are not in the ignition.  
• Park the vehicle with the working battery close to the hood of the disabled vehicle, but do not let the cars touch.
• Put on gloves if you have them.

How To Jump Start Your Car With Cables

1. Clamp one end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery.  
2. Clamp the other end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of the working battery.  
3. Clamp one end of the black jumper cable to the negative terminal of the working battery. 
4. Find a bare metal surface on the disabled vehicle that is not near the battery, such as a bolt on the engine block.  
5. Clamp the other end of the black jumper cable to this bare metal surface.  
6. Start the vehicle with the working battery, and let it run for a few minutes.  
7. Try starting up your vehicle. If it doesn’t work, check all of your connections to make sure they’re secure and try again. If the issue still exists, get in touch with a mechanic.

How To Jump Start A Car With A Portable Battery

A portable battery can be a great tool, especially if you’ve broken down in a rural area where there aren’t any other cars on the road. With a battery pack, make all the same checks, like damage to the battery, and ensure all safety measures like gloves and no flames nearby are in place.

1. Place the battery pack somewhere safe where it won’t fall or move.
2. Connect the red positive jump lead from the battery pack to the positive terminal on the car.
3. Connect the black negative cable to an earthing point like an unpainted metal part of your car.
4. Turn on the pack and try to start your car (if the issue still exists, call a mechanic).
5. If the pack has worked, let the engine run for five minutes.
6. Turn off the engine and remove the jump leads in the reverse order to how you applied them.
7. Restart the car and drive away.

Conclusion

In most situations, contacting a mechanic is the best way to deal with a potential jump start. This ensures your safety and increases your chances of your car being restarted successfully. If you are in a rush or in a rural area, follow the above steps to get your car back on the road, but remember to follow safety precautions at all times.

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Car Battery FAQs

How long does it take to jump-start a car?  

Once the cables are connected, jumpstarting your car should only take a few minutes. Between 5 to 30 minutes depending on conditions. To fully recharge the battery, you must drive for at least 15 minutes after restarting the vehicle.  

What happens when you jump-start a car the wrong way? 

Each car is different, but each has fuses that help protect the car. If an accident does occur, most of the time, you don’t need to be concerned for your safety. The car may sustain a little damage, but nothing serious usually occurs that would lead to serious harm. 

The damage will depend on how long you try to jump it in the wrong way, the components and battery will take more damage the longer the cables are in the wrong place. There may be sparks or the cables may start to burn or melt. If corrected quickly (by turning both engines off and leaving for a minute), there won’t be much damage. 

How many times should I jump my battery? 

If the issue persists and you have to jump the car more than once within a few uses, it may need to be looked at by a qualified car mechanic, as the problems may have escalated past the battery dying. It’s best to call someone as soon as this problem happens more than once.