It’s happened to many of us; you’re in a rush and your car just doesn’t want to get started. Normally, you’ll find that the main culprit is your battery. Maybe you left your lights or your radio on without the engine running; or maybe the cold weather has had an impact or it’s just an old battery that needs replacing.
Either way, it’s always useful to know how to jump-start your car – whether you have jump leads handy or a portable charger. After all, a successful jump-start might just save you that dreaded long wait in the rain for your breakdown service to arrive.
The process isn’t difficult, but it’s important to know what you’re doing so you don’t damage your car or even injure yourself. If in doubt, we’d recommend leaving it to the professionals, but if you’re confident enough, check out our step-by-step guide below.
Make sure you have the right equipment
The two common ways of re-starting a car with a flat battery are to use jump leads or a portable charger; or to get the car rolling to ‘bump’ start the engine. If you opt for the former, Bluecol jump leads are ideal, while there’s also a number of portable chargers you can try – namely the NOCO 2A Battery Charger or the multi-functional Streetwize Emergency Jump Start.
Complete your safety checks
Before attempting to jump-start the car, check that:
- The battery isn’t leaking or damaged – get in touch from a professional mechanic if it is.
- There are no naked flames, including cigarettes, nearby.
- Clothing and metal items, like jewellery, are kept out of the way.
- The car key is out of the ignition.
- The jump leads aren’t damaged.
Using jump leads safely
- Position the two cars
First thing’s first, find someone with a fully charged battery who’s willing to help. Line up both cars so the batteries are close together, without the cars actually touching. In most cars, this will be in the engine bay, but some cars do have them stored in the boot. Keep the handbrakes on and the ignitions off.
- Connect the red jump lead
Attach the red ‘positive’ lead to the positive battery terminal on the working car, then the other end to the positive terminal on the flat battery. The positive terminal will be marked and usually has a red cap.
- Connect the black jump lead
Once the red one is connected, take the black ‘negative’ lead and connect one end to the negative terminal on the charged battery. However, this time, don’t attach it to the negative terminal on the flat battery; instead, clip it onto a piece of solid metal away from the car battery, an area often known as an earthing rod. You can check your car manual to see if your car has one.
- Start the engine
Start the engine of the car with the charged battery and wait five minutes. Then, try and start the car with the flat battery. If it doesn't start within five minutes, wait another couple of minutes and try again.
- Remove the cables
Leave both car engines on for around 10 minutes before turning off and disconnecting the leads in reverse order from the way they were connected (remove the black lead from your car first and finish with the red lead from the other car). Make sure the leads don’t touch one another, or the cars, when they’re being removed.
- Restart your car
Turn the ignition and see if the car starts. If you’re in luck, drive the car for about 15 minutes to let the battery recharge. This means it will hopefully start up first time when you next go for a drive.
If the car doesn’t start, there may be a more serious problem afoot, and it’s likely that it may require some professional help.
Jump-starting using a power pack
Portable power packs are another way of getting back on the road without having to find another car or a group of volunteers willing to push.
Make sure the pack is fully charged, then attach the built-in clips to your battery’s positive terminal and to an earthing point – much like you would with jump leads – and turn the pack on. Next, start the car up and, if it works, leave it to run for five minutes before switching the pack off. Repeating the steps above, turn off the engine off before removing the leads in reverse order and then restart the car, allowing it to run for a good 15 minutes.
These devices can be more expensive than jump leads, but they can be a wise investment if you’re car isn’t used often or if you have a bad habit of leaving the lights on!
At Arnold Clark Autoparts, we have the NOCO 2A Battery Charger which is compatible with all types of vehicles – cars, vans, SUVs, motorbikes, lawnmowers, tractors, you name it – as well as the compatible extension cable. And if your charger runs out of power? The NOCO Power Adapter can recharge jump starters up to five times faster than the traditional USB wall or car chargers.
If you’re looking for something a bit more multi-functional, you should also consider the Streetwize Emergency Jump Start kit, which is another very reliable solution in case of any emergency or mishap. The power battery starter can jump-start up to 2,500cc petrol and 2,000cc diesel vehicles while the air compressor can be used to inflate tyres. It’s compact too, which means it can be stored in backpacks, travel gear, camping packs, tool sheds, or in the glovebox.
How often should you change a car battery?
Car batteries often last between 5 and 7 years, but you should always look out for any signs of deterioration. If you’re struggling to get your car started regularly, it may be worth getting it checked out. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry – and it will hopefully prevent any problems in the long run.
Check out our similar articles:
- What to do if your vehicle has a flat battery
- When to change a car battery
- Don’t let a battery breakdown spoil your break
Header image credit: Sergey Meshkov via Pexels.com
