How to Jump Start A Car

Jump starting your car is a relatively straightforward process.

However, if not done correctly it can be dangerous and lead to a number of consequences such as exploding batteries.

Things to remember

• Check your owners’ manual before attempting to jump start your car for specific instructions which you should follow.
• You’ll need some good quality jump leads.
• You’ll also need another car which has a good battery with the same voltage as your own.
• Ensure that both batteries are in good condition.
• If you do spot damage to a battery, such as a leak, for example, leave the job to a garage.
• Remove any loose clothing and metal items such as jewellery.
• Park both cars close together but not touching.

After you’ve taken steps to help stay safe, you’re nearly ready to begin. Make sure your car is in neutral. Then, double-check you’ve turned off electrics such as wipers and lights and unplugged any mobile phone chargers or similar car accessories. Double check the handbrakes in both cars are securely on and remove the keys from the ignition. Also, don’t smoke while jump starting a car!

Next Steps…
It’s really important that you follow these directions closely. The jump leads must be connected to and removed from the batteries in the correct way and correct order. If the jump leads get hot, make sure you turn the engines off.

Step 1

Start by finding the flat battery and look for the positive terminal. Once you’ve found it, take one end of the RED jump lead and connect it to the positive terminal. Then, find the positive terminal on the good battery in the other car and connect the other end of the RED lead to it.

Step 2

Next, take the BLACK lead and then connect one end to the negative terminal of the good battery.

Step 3

This next part is slightly different. Connect the other end of the BLACK lead to an area of unpainted metal on the car which has the flat battery, such as a bolt.

For safety, it’s important to ensure that the area you choose is away from the battery and away from the fuel system.

Step 4

Double check that you have followed the instructions carefully and that you have correctly connected the leads before then starting up the car with the good battery.

Step 5

After leaving the car with the good battery running for a few minutes, it’s now time to try and start the car with the flat battery. If both cars are now running, wait a little while (about 10 minutes) before moving onto step 6. If you’re still having an issue, find a garage to help.

Step 6

After waiting, turn off both car engines and then remove the jump leads in the reverse order – so start with the end of the black lead which is connected to unpainted metal. When doing this be really careful that the leads do not touch. You should also make sure the leads don’t touch any other area of the car either when removing them.

Step 7

Finally, try starting the car which previously wouldn’t start up to check if the problem is resolved or not.

If you’re still having no luck after attempting to jump start your car, or you find that your car won’t start up again after turning the engine off, find a local garage with Tradesmenin quickly and easily who can help get you moving again.