Ever found yourself stranded in a parking lot, desperately turning your key only to hear that dreaded clicking sound?
This is the time to gather the tools so we can very quickly refresh ourselves before we set out for a jump-start.
The most essential tool you will need in jump-starting a car is a high-quality jumper cable. Look for them between 4 to 6-gauge thick and about 20 feet long in length. The reason being that thicker cables allow for the more efficient flow of current, while longer cables will let positioning options between the two vehicles that are involved in the jump-start.
You need a donor vehicle with a working battery to afford the jump-start. Make sure that the donor vehicle has a battery with the same voltage as that of your dead battery: 12 volts in most car examples.
Safety first always when working with car batteries. Gather the following safety items:
Safety glasses that will protect your eyes from possible acid splashes
Insulated gloves used for protecting against electrical shocks
A flashlight for better visibility, especially in low-light conditions
Please don't forget your car's owner's manual. It's probably the key to your success as it relates to particular information about your car, including the exact jump-starting procedure and where the battery is found. Some modern cars have special jump-start connection points, so consulting the manual is crucial.
In most vehicles, the battery is located, generally, under the hood in the corner to one side or the other. However, in some modern cars, it is located in some other location. For example, certain BMW models have batteries in the trunk, whereas in certain Mercedes-Benz models, it rests underneath the floorboard on the passenger side. If you remain unsure, check the owner's manual of your car for the acceptable location.
Once you locate the battery, you will likely find it covered by a plastic shield or cover. This shape is designed to prevent accidental contact with and provide protection against debris entering the battery. The cover will need to be removed so you can apply the proper connections to the battery terminals. Observe the plastic clips, screws, or tabs keeping the cover in place. Carefully detach or unscrew these fasteners and set the cover aside.
Now that the battery is exposed, you will determine the respective positive and negative terminals. The positive terminal is usually denoted by a "+" symbol and equipped with red covering. The negative side carries a "-" symbol and may feature a black coating. You must accurately determine these terminals to allow the cables to connect correctly during the jump-starting procedure. If they are not clearly marked, check the manual of the car for assurance.
So with all tools in hand and your battery frail in sight, it is about time to connect them both in the correct way. This phase is crucial for the safety and success of jump-starting.
Park the working vehicle next to the car with the dead battery, with the two batteries close enough to be connected with jumper wires. Turn both vehicles off, then engage the parking brake.
First, the red cable is connected to the positive terminal of the dead battery. The other end of the cable needs to be connected to the positive terminal of the working battery.
Next, connect one end of the black cable to the negative (-) terminal of the working battery. For the final connection, attach the other end to an unpainted metal surface in the engine bay of the car with the dead battery, away from the battery itself.
Be careful not to allow the cable clamps to touch each other or any metal surface other than the specified connection points. Always check the connections once again to be sure that they were tight and well in order.
Once the cables are properly connected, start the engine of the working vehicle. Allow it to run for a few minutes to provide initial charge to the dead battery.
After a brief interval, try to crank the engine of the car with the dead battery. Don't wait much longer after a failure to start, but only a few minutes between crank attempts; do not crank too long, or you will burn out the starter motor.
If the dead car starts successfully, let both engines run for about 5-10 minutes. This allows the alternator of the working car to charge the previously dead battery further.
When it comes to cable removal, prescribe the way of doing so accordingly:
Turn off both engines.
Disconnect the black negative (-) cable from the dead car's engine block or unpainted metal surface.
Remove the black negative (-) cable from the working car's battery.
Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the working car's battery.
Finally, remove the red positive (+) cable from the previously dead car's battery.
Be careful not to let the cable clamps touch each other or any metal surfaces during removal to avoid sparks.
