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 On a busy day, a dead battery is a huge nuisance. However, if the battery is bound to give up, it will. And the worst part is that there are no initial signs until it is too late. This is why experts suggest owning a working set of jumper cables in handy.

But that’s not it; you must know how to operate these cables, too.

Of course, as a novice, using jumper cables may seem like a complicated task. But it doesn’t have to. Especially when you have us by your side. Keep reading this blog to unveil the nuances of jumpstarting a dead battery like a pro.

1- How do you know if your car battery is acting up?

Well, before you proceed to jumpstart your car, determine if at all dead battery is the reason behind the issue.

All the electrical systems of your car are powered by the battery. So, look out for these signs –

1. Dim or not working headlights
2. Slow cranking or the engine barely starting
3. Many cars even have a battery-specific warning light. Check to determine the problem.

2- Things you will need to get started

Once you determine it is the battery that is the culprit behind your vehicle’s breakdown, you will need to gain access to the required equipment. These include –

1. The jumper cables
2. A portable jump starter/Another vehicle to jumpstart your vehicle
3. Protective eyewear or safety glasses (optional requirement)

3- Jump starting a car – the essential steps

To jumpstart the vehicle, you may require another vehicle. However, you can use a portable jump starter for the same, too. This small battery unit comes equipped with a set of cables. You can use them to jumpstart your vehicle.

With that being said, let’s look at some essential steps to effectively jumpstart a vehicle below –

1. Turn your vehicle off and put the transmission in park. If your vehicle is manual, turn it to neutral. Also, ensure the parking brake is set.
2. Now locate the position of the car batteries. Typically, the battery is situated under the hood. It is on the right side near the front end. In some vehicle models, the battery is located in the trunk.
3. Will you be using a vehicle to jumpstart your car? In that case, you might want to park both your and the other car next to each other. Also, shut off the other car and apply the parking brake to it. If you are on a roadway, ensure the hazard light is turned on.
4. Next, bring out your jumper cables. Ensure that they are damage-free, and avoid touching the clamps together.
5. Then, identify the terminals on the cable. Positive terminals are coded with red and have a (+) sign. Negative terminals, on the other hand, have a black-colour code. Also, it features a (-) sign.
6. Go on to join one end of the red-coloured clamp to the positive terminal of your car battery and the other end to the same point on the donor battery. Next, place one end of the black color-coded clamp on the negative terminal of donor car battery. Similarly, the other end shall be connected to an immovable, unpainted metal part of your car’s engine.
7. Once the attachments are properly done, proceed to start the working vehicle. Also, let it run for a few minutes. This will allow the dead battery to get charged.
8. Consider starting your car while the cables are still connected. Also, give ignition a start. Ensure that you do not crank it for more than a few seconds. Similarly, try starting the vehicle only two to three times. If there is no outcome, give it a few minutes before trying again.
9. Once your vehicle starts, remove the jumper cable but in reverse order. Remove the black-coloured clamp off your engine first and then from the donor engine. Then remove the red-coloured clamp from the donor battery and then from yours.
10. This should result in your car starting back to its glory. But remember, if the battery is bad, you may be required to do the entire process again. And in case the charging system is faulty, your vehicle will only run for a few minutes before giving up. This means you will require an expert’s help!

Note: You can certainly jumpstart your vehicle during rain. However, it is not an ideal suggestion. If there is no other choice available, ensure that everything under the bonnet remains dry and safeguarded throughout the process. If in doubt, consider speaking with experts to protect your vehicle, yourself and others from damages.

4- Jumpstarting a car with a portable battery

It is always a good idea to keep a battery in your vehicle. It can act as a booster when there is no other car available for help. Here are some tips to jumpstart with a portable battery -

1. Ensure the battery is fully charged. Hence, it is important to put the battery booster pack somewhere stable in your car.
2. The connection process of the red-coloured and black-coloured terminals to a battery will remain the same as connecting it to a car. (Refer to the point 3.6).
3. Once connected, switch on the portable battery booster pack.
4. Then, switch on the ignition on your car. Try turning the vehicle on every few seconds. If there is no positive outcome, perhaps there is a huge problem hiding. In such cases, consulting an expert is the only relevant solution.
5. In case the engine starts when turned on, keep the engine running for about 10 minutes. You can turn off the boost pack and let the engine remain in ignition for a while.
6. After a while, you can turn off the vehicle engine. Also, ensure that you remove the clamps of your vehicle and the battery in reverse order. First, the black-coloured clamps come off, and then the red-coloured ones.
7. Lastly, you can try turning your car on to see if it starts up. Ensure to press the clutch to activate the starter system.

5- Tips for using jumper cables effectively

1. To make the most out of jumpstarting a vehicle, you will need to properly connect the colour-coded metal clamps to the battery terminals.
2. Terminals are nothing but two metal stubs on top of the battery that sticks out. If your battery terminals are covered with plastic covers, ensure to remove them first.
3. Always look for “-” and “+” signs on the battery to determine negative and positive terminals.
4. Another thing you can do is look for colours. Black typically means negative. Red always means positive.

6- Safety tips to keep in mind

As mentioned earlier, jumpstarting a vehicle seems quite a challenging task for most people. And it is; there is no doubt of that. In fact, incorrectly jumpstarting the vehicle can lead to damage to both car’s sensitive electronic systems. Hence, it is crucial to follow a few safety tips to be on the safer side –

1. Ensure you jumpstart your vehicle when road conditions are safe. This is because you will be required to place the donor vehicle next to yours. If you are on a busy road, it is best to call experts instead.
2. Before you decide to use the jumper cables, take a few seconds to inspect them. Damaged cables have the tendency to short out when they touch themselves or metal.
3. Avoid jumpstarting a battery that appears damaged, corroded or even leaking.
4. Avoid jumpstarting your vehicle if you notice it being overheated. Check for the temperature sign. If it is on, avoid the process.
5. Avoid jumpstarting your vehicle if you notice it being low on oil. Check the oil light for the same.
6. It is essential to confirm negative and positive battery terminals on both vehicles before getting started.
7. Ensure that both vehicles are turned off before you decide to hook them with jumper cables.
8. Avoid touching the ends of the jumper cables to each other or even any other parts of the vehicle.
9. Once done jumpstarting, carefully remove the jumper cables. Check for fan belts and fan blades.

7- Things to do after jumpstarting the car

As soon as your vehicle is back to life after being jumpstarted, remove the cables in reverse order. And while doing so, avoid turning the car off as that could result in your vehicle not starting again. This means you may be required to conduct the process all over again. Instead, take your car for a drive for the next 15 to 30 minutes. The idea here is to allow the battery to recharge.

If jumpstarting has resulted in your vehicle starting to normal, it suggests that your battery was drained, either due to lights being on or other electrical systems using the energy. Jumpstarting the vehicle can easily recharge the battery and fix the issue in no time.

However, if you know that lights and other electrical systems in your vehicle were turned off and your vehicle’s battery was still discharged, it is best to seek an expert’s guidance. Take your vehicle for an inspection by the mechanic. Experts will diagnose your car with the actual issue and help address the issue with the right tools and methods.

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Conclusion - How to Jumpstart a Car?

Sticking to the details listed in this blog should allow you to jumpstart your vehicle and get going with your day.

However, jumpstarting, in some cases, is just a temporary fix. This means, seeking expert’s assistance may be required. A mechanic can conduct a complete diagnosis to determine the issue and fix it to ensure your vehicle remains in mint condition for years to come!