Nothing is more inconvenient than discovering you need to jump-start your car, except doing it wrong. Willard Xpress strongly advises you to jump-start your car only in an emergency with the proper jump-kit.
If you’re unsure how to do it, always contact a professional. Before we discuss common jump-starting mistakes, let’s go through the proper process of jump-starting your car.
How To Jump-Start Your Car Safely
If jumper cables are available and there is a booster battery in another car, make sure that the vehicles have:
- Engaged their handbrakes.
- Both ignition switches are turned off.
- And that you’ve placed the gear selector in neutral (manual) or park (automatic) for both vehicles.
Before connecting the cables to the battery, ensure you know the negative and positive terminals, as some car manufacturers have different colour codes.
When attaching the cables to the battery’s terminals, ensure they are firmly attached and do not touch each other or any other metal part of the car.
Also, make sure the cars do not touch, and then proceed in this exact sequence:
- Connect one cable to the positive (+) post of the discharged battery.
- Connect the other end of the same cable to the positive (+) post of the booster battery.
- Connect the second cable to the booster battery’s negative (-) post.
- Make the final connection of the second cable on the engine block or chassis of the stalled vehicle.
- Ensure all booster cable connections are secure. The engine of the stalled vehicle may now be cranked.
- If successful, remove cables in the reverse order of the above steps.
Never jump-start a vehicle immediately after initial failed attempts. Wait 5 to 10 minutes before trying to jump-start your car.
Certain motor manufacturers, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, require a slave battery or alternative electrical supply to be connected before a new battery can be removed and fitted.
Failure to do so could damage the vehicle’s electronic management system, so it is essential to review the correct jump-starting procedure in your car’s user manual.
While this may seem simple enough, there is still room for error. So, what clues do you need to be aware of that you’ve made a mistake in jump-starting your car?
Common Mistakes To Make When Jump-Starting A Car
As many have said before, jump-starting a car may seem straightforward enough. However, making a mistake can lead to much more significant issues.
Here are some clues that will indicate you are doing something wrong:
Connecting The Wrong Terminals
A common mistake is connecting the jumper cables to the wrong terminals, or what is called reverse polarity. There are several signs this has occurred:
Sparks Or Smoke
If you notice sparks or smoke when connecting your jumper leads, you have made an incorrect connection.
This mistake can damage the battery or cause an explosion due to igniting hydrogen gas being released from the battery. Before this occurs, you will notice the battery becomes swollen.
Cables Get Hot
If the jump leads heat up quickly and catch fire, this is a sign that you’ve attached them to the terminals.
This can also occur if the leads are too thin and unable to handle the electricity flow or are poorly connected. Therefore, to avoid this, always make sure to buy a good-quality jumper cable set.
Connecting Negative To Negative
It is another common mistake many have made. However, always connect the negative cable to a grounded metal part of the dead vehicle instead of directly to the dead battery’s negative terminal.
This reduces the risk of sparks and potential explosions.
Jump-Starting A Battery With Corroded Or Damaged Terminals
When opening the bonnet of the vehicle with the flat battery, if you notice corrosion on the terminals, leaks from the battery, or that it is physically damaged, do not jump-start it.
This can be incredibly dangerous.
The Cars Start Behaving Strangely
If the donor or flat battery car starts behaving strangely, stop jump-starting the vehicles.
A clear sign of this is if the donor car’s electrical system starts malfunctioning or the engine stutters. Stop immediately, as the donor battery might be too weak for the jump.
Also, stop if the car with the flat battery’s electrical system starts acting strangely. This can be flickering lights, warning lights on the dashboard, or odd sounds.
As you can tell, a lot can go wrong if you jump-start your car incorrectly. The best method of avoiding having to jump-start your car is to have your battery tested regularly.
We have numerous outlets around the country where our professional assistance will test and recommend if you need to replace your old battery.
