How do you jump start a car?
Battery failure generally occurs over time, due to battery age and general wear and tear. Several factors can bring on battery failure quicker than expected.
Here, we explore what battery failure is, what the signs are, the most common cause of battery damage, what actually kills the battery in a car, and how you can tell if it’s the battery or alternator that has failed.
When jumping a car, which cable goes on first?
When jump starting a car using cables, you should use the red cable first, connecting it to the positive terminal of the good battery first, then to the positive terminal of the flat battery. The black cable is then used to connect the negative terminal of the good battery to a suitable earth point on the engine or chassis of the vehicle with the flat battery – in that order.
Before any cables are connected, however, there are a few safety steps you should firstly take:
- Check that both vehicles have the same voltage battery and polarity.
- Check that neither battery is damaged nor leaking acid.
- Ensure the temperature isn’t below 0°C, as the battery is prone to freezing.
- Remove loose clothing so nothing can get caught in the engine components, as well as metal accessories – necklaces, rings etc. – to avoid causing potential sparks.
A video by UK company Sealey, “How to Jump Start a Car”, provides all the above information and more in their simple and clear step-by-step guide on how to jump start a car using cables.
Can you jump start a car without cables?
It Is possible to jump start a car without cables if that car is a manual.
The ‘bump start’ requires some friends (or friendly volunteers) to assist with pushing the car.
To bump start your car, push in the clutch and hold, and put the car into second gear. Keep holding down the clutch. Turn on the ignition, then have your volunteers start pushing the car (or just let your foot off the brakes if you’re facing downhill). Once you’re moving at a fast walking pace, bring up the clutch quickly and the engine will start. Once this happens, push the clutch pedal again and let the engine idle. Let the car run while it recharges.
Some organisations also offer a jump starter power pack, or similar, which allows you to jump start your vehicle using leads, but without a donor car.
If you get stuck, you can always call the experts. Ours will be with you within 30-40 minutes!
Can you jump start a car with a completely dead battery?
You can jump start a car that appears to have a completely dead battery. However, if the battery has no life whatsoever, if it’s ‘too dead’ with no sign of life, then the likelihood is it cannot be jumped.
Worth noting is that every time a battery dies, it suffers irreversible damage. A battery should therefore only be jump started a handful of times before it’s time to replace that battery with a new one. If you’re unsure of what is best for your battery and your vehicle, read our useful tips on testing your car battery, so you can make an informed decision.
How do you jump start a dead battery?
To jump start a dead battery, the jump starting process would be the same as that used for a car with just a flat battery. You should not jump start a battery more than two or three times. If your car requires frequent jumping, that could be a sign of either a flat battery or a failed alternator.