Car servicing: How to jump start a car

Car service guide: How to Jump Start a Car

Whether you've left your lights on or your battery is simply nearing the end of its life, a dead car battery can leave you stranded at the most inconvenient times. However, jump-starting a car is a relatively simple process that can get you back on the road quickly and down to your nearest car service station. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to jump start a car safely and effectively.

This process can be carried out with either a jump pack or doner vehicle. For this guide we will focus on using a doner vehicle as not everyone will have a jump pack.

What you will need:

Before you start the process you will need a few things to get started.

Jump cables: Make sure these are in good condition
A doner car: The doner car will need to have good working battery. Park the cars as close as possible with battery's near each other.
Jump pack (alternative to a second car)

How to connect your jump cables

Attach one red clamp to the red positive (+) terminal of the flat battery.
Attach the red clamp on the other end of the cable to positive (+) terminal of the doner battery
Attach one black clamp to the negative (-) terminal of the doner battery
Attach the black clamp on the other end of the cable to a solid metal point on the engine block or chassis (not the negative terminal of the dead battery) of the car with the flat battery.

(?) The reason you should connect negative to earth (solid metal or engine block) is for safety. This reduces the risk of sparks and also reduces the risk of damage to cars with complicated electronics. In rare cases negative to negative can be more likely to cause a battery to ignite and cause a fire.

How to jump start your car

With the jump leads securely connected start the doner car and run the engine for around 2-3 minutes.
Attempt to start the car with the flat battery. The car should now start. If it does not start wait a further minute and try one more time.

How to disconnect the jump leads

Remove the black clamp from the vehicle with the flat battery
Remove the black clamp from the doner vehicle
Remove the red clamp from doner vehicle
Remove the red clamp from the car with the flat battery

(?) The reason we follow this order when connecting and disconnecting jump wires is to reduce the risk of damage to either vehicles electrical systems.

After the car has started

With your car now started you should leave the engine running for 30 minutes or go for a good drive (15 minutes minimum). Do not turn the engine off straight away as your car will not start again without help.

Final Tips and Precautions

If the car doesn't start after a few attempts, you may have a more significant issue with the battery, alternator, or starter. In this case, seek professional assistance.
Ensure the jumper cables do not touch each other during the jump-starting process to avoid a short circuit.
Follow the instructions in your vehicle's manual regarding jump-starting, as some vehicles may have specific procedures or precautions.
If you're uncomfortable jump-starting a car yourself, don't hesitate to contact E&J Jarvis ltd for help and advice.

By following these steps and taking necessary safety precautions, you can safely jump start a car and get back on the road in no time.