How to jump start a car

If you have ever had a car that would not start, then you are aware of how imperative it is to know how to jump start a car. Being stranded is not fun at all.

Having a dead battery is usually why your car will not start and it needs a jump. If you know how to jump start a car, you are one step ahead of many people.

If your battery is dead and needs a jump start to recharge, a few steps are needed to get your car started.

What are the 5 steps to jumpstart a car?

Before you jump start your car, you want to make sure that you or another person has jumper cables.

We suggest that everyone has an extra set of jumper cables, because sometimes, you never know when you will need them. Also, having another vehicle to give you a jump would be required as well.

You can then get a jump start to your car’s battery when you have this main item. Here are the steps to jump start you car.

1. Get your vehicle ready.

Before you jump start the car, make sure you have everything in place and ready. Check with the car giving you a jump to make sure their car has a good battery.

Then check and see if you and the other car are close enough so they can reach your battery.

Turn off both of the cars, take out the keys, and place both cars in neutral with the parking brakes on.

Open both hoods on the cars and find the batteries. If you notice anything on your battery, such as corrosion on the battery terminals, you now know what the issue is.

2. Attach Positive Cables in this Order

You want to attach the red clamp to the positive red terminal on the dead battery. After, attach the other end of the cable to the red positive terminal on the working battery.

3. Attach the Negative Cables in this Order

After this, attach the negative black clamp to the negative battery terminal of the dead car, taking the other black clamp and attach it to a piece of grounded and unpainted metal.

Usually, in your engine compartment of the car that has a dead battery.

4. Start Your Vehicle

Start by cranking up the car with the working battery. You will wait for about one minute or two, and this is when the car is transferring power to the dead battery.

If a minute has passed and the car does not start, wait a few more minutes, then you should attempt to start the car again.

5. Disconnect the Jumper Cables

Make sure that the positive and negative cables never touch one another. First, take the negative cable clamp off of the metal surface of the dead vehicle.

Then remove the other negative cable clamp from the working car and follow the same process for the positive cables.

After the car has started, you want to drive around for at least 15-20 minutes to get the battery life going.

This is a sign that you may need a new battery for your vehicle. If you do not need a new battery, it could have been caused by leaving the lights on.

Can you jump start new cars?

If you have recently bought a new car, and the battery is dead, first, check the owner’s manual in regard to jump-starting the car.

There are some risks of jump-starting a new car, however. While many new cars can be jump-started, there are a lot of risks you are taking in doing so.

You should only use quality leads with spike protection or use a jump start pack. You do not want to jump-start a battery that is damaged either.

If the battery has been damaged, you will know by the smell because it smells like a rotten egg.

Another sign of a damaged battery is when the car is turned off for a short time, and it will not start back quickly.

Due to the electronic systems in modern cars these days, it is risky to jump-start newer cars.

There are steps in jump starting the newer cars. If it is damaged, do not jump start the car.

If it is not damaged, you want to follow specific directions in your owner’s manual. Also, if you are not comfortable with jump starting a new car, we suggest you call the dealership or a mechanic.

This ensures that you will not damage the car.

How long should it take to jump start a car?

If you have a dead battery, we suggest waiting about two minutes for your car battery is get some juice so that it can start.

With the donor car still running, letting your battery get power for about two minutes should do the trick. However, if the car still does not start after two minutes, wait for another two.

If your car cranks up immediately after the jump, do not remove the cables yet. Keep your car running with the cables still on for two minutes.

If you drive your car, park it, and later try to start it, you may have more than just a dead battery.

Can a completely dead battery be recharged?

If your car’s battery is completely dead, and you have given it a jump start, you are in luck because you can recharge your battery.

One of the best ways to do so is to drive your car around for at least 20 minutes after getting a jump start. Another way to recharge your battery is to keep charging for 24 hours.

This will give new life to your battery and your car. Most battery chargers are fairly inexpensive as well.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

To sum it all up, knowing how to jump start a car is a great piece of info to learn and know. If your car battery ever dies, you will know exactly what you should do to get your car back on the road again.