Dead Battery? Jump Start Basics To Know
A dead car battery can be a stressful situation, especially if you have somewhere that you need to be. If you are struggling with a dead car battery, your first thought may be to just jump start it and get where you need to be. Unfortunately, for those car owners who aren't particularly experienced jump starting a vehicle, even seemingly simple mistakes can prove dangerous. Here are some of the things that you need to know about safely jump starting your car.
Make Sure It's In Park
The first thing that you need to do before you jump start your car is to make sure that the car is safely in park. Take time to double-check the emergency brake as well so that you can be sure that the car is secure. Remember that, when you actually start the car, it could jump forward or backward if it's not secure in park.
Check The Battery Condition
Before you connect jumper cables to your car's battery, check the battery condition carefully. Look for any bulges, cracks, or leaks from the battery that could indicate damage. If you try to jump start a car with a damaged battery, you risk potentially serious injury if the battery explodes. Replace the battery and see if the car will start before you try jumper cables in this situation.
Make Sure The Cables Are Properly Connected
Jumper cables must be connected in the proper order for safety. If you've never worked with them before, you may find that it's best to call a tow company instead, but it's good to remember which order those cables need to be attached in. Start by connecting the cables to the positive terminals on each car. Once those are connected, attach the negative cables starting with the car you're jumping from, then your car.
Start The Cars In The Right Order
Once the cables are connected, start the car that you're using to jump start your car. Make sure all of the accessories are turned off in your car, then start your car. Leave both of them running for several minutes to allow the battery to draw a little bit of a charge from the other vehicle. Then, detach the negative cables first, starting with your car's battery and then the negative terminal of the other car. Then, disconnect the positive cables in the same order.
These are some of the most important things to know when you're jump starting any car. Call a local tow truck service if you need more help with a vehicle jump start.
Share