Checklist to Jumpstart a Car
Having all the necessary equipment is crucial before you turn the keys or connect the car battery charging cables. Jumpstarting a vehicle without the right tools can be dangerous and even damage the car. This checklist will ensure you're fully prepared and ready to jumpstart your vehicle safely.
- Jumper cables (also known as battery cables, car battery cords, or car charger cables)
- A second vehicle containing a fully charged battery
- Gloves and goggles (optional)
- A torch or flashlight when visibility is poor
- A level area where both cars can be parked safely
Basic Checks Before You Begin:
- Confirm that both vehicles are completely powered off and that the ignition keys are removed.
- Inspect the battery terminals for both cars. Check for any signs of corrosion.
- Locate the positive (+) and negative (–) terminals. Typically, the red wire suggests positive, and the black indicates negative.
- Check that the jumper cables are in good condition without any cuts.
- Ensure the two vehicles do not touch each other while the jumpstart is in progress.
Pro tip: Use the owner’s manual to locate the car battery diagram and determine the battery’s location.
How to Jumpstart a Car?
So here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to jumpstart a car. After gathering the required tools, complete the following steps in the correct order:
Step 1: Position the Vehicles Correctly
Park the vehicles so the batteries are accessible. Ideally, they should face each other or be parked side by side. Check that they are in ‘park’ for automatic transmissions or neutral for manuals and that the handbrakes are on.
Step 2: Locate the Battery and Identify Terminals
Lift the bonnets of both vehicles and check that the batteries can be accessed. Locate the car battery plus-minus. Remove any casing covers on the terminals.
Step 3: Correctly Connect Jumper Cables
Connecting the jumper cables must be done in the following order:
- The red clamp goes on the flat battery's positive (+) terminal.
- The red clamp goes on the charged battery's positive (+) terminal.
- The black clamp goes on the charged battery's negative (–) terminal.
- A black clamp goes on a bolt or bracket on the dead battery’s car (preferably an unpainted metal part of the engine). Avoid connecting the black clamp to the dead battery's negative terminal to prevent sparks and short-circuiting.
Step 4: Start the Donor Car
Start the functioning vehicle and allow it to idle for 3-5 minutes. This gives your dead battery a chance to absorb some charge.
Step 5: Attempt to Start the Flat Battery Vehicle
Try turning on the ignition of a car with a dead battery. If the vehicle doesn't start up immediately, pause for a few minutes before trying again. Doesn't work? Check the connections again.
Step 6: Remove the Cables in Reverse Order
After successfully starting the dead vehicle, it is time to remove the jumper cables. The order is as follows:
- Black clamp from the grounded metal surface
- Black clamp from donor battery
- Red clamp from donor battery
- Red clamp from the previously flat battery
While disengaging the clamps, ensure they do not come into contact with one another or any metal surfaces.
Step 7: Let the Recharged Car Run
Run the vehicle with the recharged battery for 15 to 30 minutes. This ensures that the car's battery uses the alternator to recharge the car battery, which is thus powered by the car's engine.
Safety Precautions
Jump-starting a car involves some risk factors, including electricity, moving parts, and the possibility of volatile gases. However, by following the safety precautions, you can ensure a secure and protected jump-starting process.
- Always check if the red wire is positive or negative.
- Never touch the metal clamps together.
- Avoid jumpstarting batteries in enclosed spaces or near flammable substances.
- Do not attempt to charge a leaking or damaged battery.
- Use gloves and eye protection.
- Make sure that the metal clamps are secured and not loosely hanging.
- Some hybrid and modern vehicles have special instructions and may require other procedures. Always check your owner's manual.
How Does a Car Battery Lose Charge?
Understanding how a car battery loses charge helps prevent future breakdowns. Here are the most common causes:
- Interior or headlights left on overnight.
- A bad alternator that does not charge the battery
- Natural deterioration – the typical lifespan of a battery is 3 -5 years
- Harsh conditions – evaporating heat and cold make the battery's output decrease.
- Loosely attached or corroded terminals.
- Phantom drain – minor electronics that use up energy when the car is not running
- Seldom driving or only going on short drives.
A battery gets charged while driving because the alternator turns engine movement into electricity, and it does so during the trip.
Tips to Keep Your Car’s Battery Healthy
Want to avoid jumpstarting altogether? These simple tips will help extend the battery's life:
- Take your car for regular drives. Letting it idle can cause depletion.
- Clean the terminals to remove corrosion.
- Inspect the battery level and voltage during periodic service.
- Disconnect the dash cameras and other chargers when the vehicle is off.
- Use insulation or park in garages to shield from temperature extremes.
- After the three-year mark, test your battery every 6–12 months.
- You should keep a car battery charging cable or portable jumpstarter in your boot.
Frequently Asked Questions
