There are days when you find yourself with a car that won’t turn on and having a discharged or depleted car battery is a common reason behind this issue. However, there are several other factors that contribute to a car not starting. The good news is that there are ways to turn on a car with a problematic battery.
Jump starting is the most used procedure to turn on a car when turning on the key or pressing the button does nothing. But where do you begin when jump-starting a vehicle?
What is Jump Starting?
Jump starting is a technique to turn on a car with a discharged battery. The non-working car is connected by cables to a car with a functioning battery. The external power source recharges the battery and provides the needed power to crank the engine. When your car is running, its charging system takes over to fuel the discharged battery. Our mechanics recommend leaving the cables attached to the vehicle with the depleted battery for a couple of minutes to recharge the dead battery.
For jump-starting a vehicle, you only need a jumper lead and a car with a healthy battery. However, the following steps must be strictly followed as directed in the car’s manual. Failure to do so might cause electrical damage to both vehicles.
How Do You Jump Start a Dead Car?
Car owners need to know the proper way to jump-start a car with a depleted battery. Here is a step-by-step procedure to jump-start most vehicles:
- Locate the batteries – Car batteries usually sit under the bonnet. The vehicle manual is the best resource in locating your battery’s location. Once discovered, check for leaks, damage or corrosion. Vehicles with a damaged battery need to be left in the hands of a professional.
- Properly position the cars – The two vehicles need to be parked in a way that the jumper leads will reach both cars’ batteries. Our Northern Beaches mechanics recommend positioning them closely, but not touching as it could cause electrical damage.
- Attach the jumper leads – This is where the real action of jump-starting a car begins. Car owners must only use jumper leads with built-in surge protection. These jumper leads come with a design to avoid damage to the vehicle due to a potentially damaging power strike. Also, be wary of which jumper lead end must be connected to the different terminals of both batteries.
- Start the car with discharged battery – Once the jumper leads are connected to both vehicles’ batteries, start the car with the good battery as you normally would. Let it run idle for a couple of minutes to charge up the depleted battery. Then, turn on the vehicle with the discharged battery. If the problem has to do with the battery, you can start the car as it normally would. Those who fail to start the car may need roadside assistance from a qualified mechanic.
- Remove the jumper leads – Removing the jumper leads must also be done properly to avoid damaging both vehicles. The removal process is the reverse version of how to properly connect the jumper cables to recharge a dead battery. It should start with the black jumper lead connected to the unpainted part of the vehicle’s under-bonnet metal and end with removing the red jumper lead connected to the positive terminal of the depleted battery.
- Drive the car – Our mechanics recommend taking the car with a discharged battery for a drive for about 20 to 30 minutes. This time will allow the discharged battery to recharge.
Which Cable Goes on First When Jumping a Car?
Connecting the right cable to the right place is crucial to jump start a car. It also ensures that no damage will result from this procedure. Our Northern Beaches mechanics provide a detailed description of which cable should go first. This instruction includes which cable should be in the terminals of the good battery and the bad battery.
- Prepare to clamp one end of the red jumper to the positive terminal of the dead battery. It is common for it to have the plus “+” symbol.
- Then, clamp the other end of the red jumper to the positive terminal of the good battery.
- Next, clamp the black jumper to the negative terminal of the dead battery.
- Lastly, clamp the other end of the black jumper to a clean, unpainted part of the vehicle with a good battery.
Our Mona Vale mechanics emphasises the importance of ensuring that the other black end of the jumper is NOT ATTACHED to the negative terminal of the good battery. Attaching it would cause sparking or an explosion.
When Should I Take My Car for Battery Replacement?
Several indicators point that a vehicle is due for a car battery replacement. Here are some signs that a battery needs replacement:
Several indicators point that a vehicle is due for a car battery replacement. Here are some signs that a
- An engine cranking but does not turn on.
- Jump starting is the only option to turn on the vehicle.
- The battery is cracked, swollen or leaking.
- The car is not functioning.
Several indicators point that a vehicle is due for a car battery replacement. Here are some signs that a battery needs replacement:Most batteries last an average of between three to five years. Entrusting the replacement in the hands of a professional guarantees the best service. It also ensures that the vehicle is running with a battery that meets the standards set by the manufacturer.Several indicators point that a vehicle is due for a car battery replacement. Here are some signs that a battery needs replacement:
Contact the Best Mechanic in Sydney’s Northern Beaches Now!
A fully qualified mechanic can help determine what’s wrong with your car. At Peninsula Auto Clinic, we have a highly experienced and trained team ready to assist. All possess years of experience and knowledge in handling car services and repairs. Each mechanic has completed the required courses, Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology and Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology and more than four years of apprenticeship. By meeting these requirements, we assure car owners in the Northern Beaches area that they are getting the best vehicle inspection and repair service. Contact Peninsula Auto Clinic now to experience why locals in this side of Sydney continue to trust our mechanics with any car inspection and repair they need!
