How to Jump Start a Car

Learning how to jump start a car is something that every driver needs to know. In the event your car battery is dead, you need to know how to start your own car, and it also comes in handy when other motorists need a jump too. Here's what you need to know.

 

Most of us run into this problem at some time in life. You are rushing to get somewhere (probably work), and your car won't start. The battery is dead. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to jump start a car battery and you can be back on the road in no time.

 

If you have emergency roadside service, a quick call will have someone on the way to jump your car, but you should still know how to get the job done yourself. First, you'll need to own a pair of jumper cables (sometimes called Booster Cables). They are available at all auto parts stores. Keep a new set of these cables in your trunk along with your tire changing equipment.

 

If you have another car that will start, you can use it to jump start the car with the dead battery. If you don't have a booster vehicle, you'll need to ask someone else if you can get a jump from their car. The car that's acting as the booster vehicle must be parked close enough to your car so that the battery cables easily reach between the two batteries. You can park the vehicles facing each other or side by side so that the cables reach.

Set the emergency brake in both cars and turn off all accessories such as the lights, the radio, and climate control. Then remove the keys from both vehicles. Keep in mind that some vehicles today have their battery located in the trunk.

 

Car batteries have a positive (+) and a negative (-) terminal on top of the battery. Sometimes these terminals are covered by caps and the positive cap is red in color. Make sure the battery is clean of any corrosion before connecting the cables.

 

Jumper cables have two clamps at each end, and they are red and black. Red clamps always attach to the positive battery terminal and the black clamps always attach to the negative posts. You must connect these clamps in the correct sequence. Improper connection may result in damage to your car's electrical system. Never let these clamps touch each other while you are connecting them. Make sure that each clamp is connected securely to the correct battery terminal.

 

·  First, attach the red clamp to the positive terminal (+) of your dead battery.

·  Then attach the red clamp at the other end of the cable to the positive terminal (+) in the vehicle being used as a booster.

·  Next, attach the black clamp to the negative terminal (-) in the booster car battery.

·  And finally, attach the black clamp to the negative grounding bolt (-) in the car with the dead battery. If your car does not have a negative grounding bolt, the black clamp can be attached to an unpainted metal part of the engine.

·  Make sure all four connection points are securely attached before trying to start your car.

 

Before starting the vehicles, make sure the jumper cables are not near any moving parts such as belts, pulleys, or fans. Next, start the vehicle that is being used as the booster for your car. Let it idle for a few minutes before attempting to start your car.

 

Now try to start the car with the weak battery. If it doesn't start right away, don't panic. Sometimes a car with a dead battery needs to build up a sufficient charge to start the engine. Let the booster vehicle feed a charge to your car for several minutes before trying to start your car again. Revving the engine in the booster vehicle to 1,800 - 2,000 rpms will increase the power through the alternator to your car.

 

Try starting your car again and once the engine is running, let it sit and idle smoothly while you disconnect the jumper cables.

 

Whatever you do, don't turn the ignition off to your car, just let it sit and idle so it builds up electricity to the battery through the alternator. It is important to disconnect the jumper cables in the exact reverse order that you attached them and do not let the metal clamps touch each other until all four have been disconnected. In other words:

·  First disconnect the black negative (-) clamp from your jumped car.

·  Then disconnect the black negative (-) clamp from the booster car.

·  Disconnect the red positive (+) clamp from the booster car.

·  And finally, disconnect the red positive (+) clamp from your jumped vehicle.

 

Coil the jumper cables and secure them in your trunk. Thank the person who let you use their vehicle for a jump. It would also be a nice gesture on your part to offer the pay for the person's time and kindness. While kindness is its own reward, a $10 or $20 always comes in handy.

 

Now close your car's hood, get in, and drive the car for at least 20 minutes. This will allow your car's alternator to charge up the battery. If you are lucky, your battery simply drained from lack of use or perhaps you accidently left the lights on the night before.

 

If the battery is a few years old, it may be deteriorating and you may need a new battery, or worst-case scenario, you may need a new alternator. With all that in mind, be careful where you park before you turn the engine off. Park in a place where you can easily jump the car if the need arises. You want a safe spot with plenty of room around the vehicle in case you need to get it jumped or towed.

 

Ever notice that your car never needs a jump when the weather is nice? Even if it is pouring down rain, you can still jump start your car. Your car and the booster vehicle's battery voltage are not high enough to be dangerous. You can still jump your car in the rain or cold.

 

With so many gasoline/battery-electric hybrid vehicles on the road today, you may be wondering how to jump start a hybrid car. Well, it is pretty much like jumping a standard gasoline-only car or truck. The main thing to know is that hybrids have two very different batteries. One is a regular 12-volt car battery that starts the vehicle. The other is a bigger lithium-ion battery pack that drives the electric motors onboard. If the hybrid has a dead auxiliary battery, it can be jumped just like other cars.

 

First, get out the hybrid's Owner's Manual to find out where the auxiliary battery is located. For older Toyota Prius models, for instance, the battery is found in the rear of the car. Some automakers place jump start tabs up front, under the hood, to make it easy to attach jumper cables. Other than that, the procedure for jump starting a hybrid is the same as listed here.

 

If your car battery has given up the ghost or is so old that it is no longer reliable, Lithia Motors is here to get you back on the road quick and easy. Our factory-trained technicians will test your car's battery to see if it can still hold a charge. We'll check your vehicle's starter and alternator as well. If you've had to jump start your car and are worried that it might leave you stranded, let us take that worry away. There's a Lithia Motors service center near you.