So your car won't start and you're pretty sure it's the battery? Don't worry, it happens to literally everyone! I am gonna show you exactly how to jumpstart your car step by step, with all the details you need to know. It's actually easy once you know what you're doing.
Stuff You Need Before Starting
Before you even try jumpstarting, make sure you got:
- Jumper cables (the thicker ones are better! thin ones might not carry enough power)
- Another car with good battery
- Maybe some gloves if you have them
- Little bit of patience
Step 1: Position Both Cars Correctly
This is super important and people mess it up all the time!
- Park the working car close to your car, like front-to-front but leave some space between them (don't let them touch!!!)
- Both cars should be turned OFF completely
- Make sure both cars are in "Park" position or if manual then put in neutral
- Always put the parking brake on both cars!!! This is for safety
- Take the keys out of both cars ignitions
Step 2: Find the Battery Terminals
Before connecting anything, you gotta know what your looking at:
- Open both car hoods and secure them properly
- Find the battery in both cars (sometimes its hidden under a plastic cover)
- Identify the positive terminal (usually has a + sign or is RED)
- Identify the negative terminal (usually has a - sign or is BLACK)
- Check if there's any cracks or damage on the battery, if yes then don't try jumpstarting!
Step 3: Connect the Jumper Cables IN THE RIGHT ORDER!!!
This is the most important part!!! You must follow this exactly order or you could damage car computers or even cause explosion:
- Connect one end of the RED cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery
- Then connect the other end of the RED cable to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery
- Next, connect one end of the BLACK cable to the negative (-) terminal of the good battery
- IMPORTANT!!! - Do NOT connect the last black clamp to the negative terminal of dead battery!!!
- Instead, connect the last BLACK cable to a unpainted metal part on the engine of the dead car (like a bolt or bracket away from the battery)
Some people make big mistake and connect to the dead battery negative terminal! This can cause sparks near the battery which could lead to explosion bcoz batteries give off flameable gas sometimes.
Step 4: Start the Working Car
- Get in the working car and start the engine
- Let it run for about 3-5 minutes (this gives some initial charge to the dead battery)
- If its really cold outside, you might need to wait longer like 5-8 minutes
- Rev the engine a little bit sometimes (press gas pedal gently to raise RPM to around 1500-2000) this helps generate more power
Step 5: Try to Start the Dead Car
- After waiting few minutes, get in the car with dead battery
- Try to start it normally
- If it doesn't start right away, wait another 5 minutes with the good car still running
- Try again
If it still won't start after few tries, there might be other issues besides the battery, like:
- Battery is too dead to be jumpstarted
- Starter motor problem
- Alternator problem
- Electrical issue somewhere else
Step 6: Removing the Cables - BE CAREFUL HERE!!!
Once the dead car starts, don't just pull off the cables any way! The order matters alot:
- Remove the BLACK cable from metal part of the previously dead car
- Remove the other end of the BLACK cable from negative terminal of good battery
- Remove the RED cable from positive terminal of good battery
- Finally, remove the RED cable from positive terminal of previously dead car
DONT LET THE METAL CLAMPS TOUCH EACH OTHER while removing them!!!
Step 7: Keep the Jumped Car Running!!!
- After jumpstarting, keep the previously dead car running for atleast 30 minutes
- Try to drive it, don't just let it idle. Driving helps charge battery faster
- Avoid using electrical things like AC, radio, headlights if possible while your recharging
- If possible, go for a highway drive where engine runs at higher RPM
Common Problems & Solutions
If the car makes clicking noise but won't start:
- Check if cables are connected properly with good metal-to-metal contact
- Make sure clamps are tight on the terminals
- Wiggle the clamps a bit to ensure better connection
- Let the good car run longer (maybe 10 minutes) before trying again
If absolutely nothing happens when you try to start:
- Double check all connections
- Make sure the cables are good quality and not damaged
- Check if there's heavy corrosion on battery terminals (white or greenish stuff)
- Clean terminals with wire brush if they're corroded
If the car starts but dies as soon as you disconnect:
- Your battery is probably too damaged and needs replacement
- The alternator might not be charging the battery properly
- Keep the jumper cables connected longer and try again
Tips to Prevent Battery Problems
So you don't have to do this again:
- Don't leave lights on when car is off!!!
- If you don't drive often, start your car every few days and let it run for 15-20 mins
- Get a battery tester (they're cheap) to check battery health regularly
- Keep the battery terminals clean (you can use baking soda mixed with water)
- Consider getting a trickle charger if you park car for long periods
- Replace batteries every 4-5 years even if they seem ok
Extra Safety Tips
Few more things to keep in mind:
- Never smoke near a battery during jumpstarting!!
- Remove metal jewelry like watches and rings before handling cables
- If you see the battery is swollen, or leaking, or smells weird - DON'T JUMPSTART! Get a new battery
- Wear eye protection if possible
- If the battery feels hot to touch, STOP and call a professional
- Some newer cars (especially hybrid or electric) have special jumpstarting procedures - check your owners manual!
What to Do If Jumpstarting Doesn't Work?
If you tried everything above and still no luck, you might need:
- Call roadside assistance
- Get a portable jump starter (they're amazing and not that expensive!)
- Have the car towed to a mechanic
- Call a friend with more car knowledge
