Knowing How To Jumpstart A Car By Yourself is probably the most essential skill a driver should have in a situation where a dead battery is the cause of a sudden engine that won’t start. Lack of flat batteries and loose terminal connections are usually the reasons why your engine may not work.
Experts in the automobile field think that jumpstarting is a safe and easy method when it is done right, but this should only be the case if you take the correct steps and also observe the safety measures. If you have a befuddling battery situation at home, in a parking lot, knowing how to do this will keep you from having to call a mobile car mechanic Perth or a tow truck Australia straight away.
What Does It Mean When Your Car Is Not Starting?
Most of the time, the battery is dead or too weak to start the engine when your car won’t start. You could hear a popping noise, slow cranking, or no noise at all. This is usually the case if you have left the light on, the battery is old, or the terminals are loose.
However, it is infrequent that the starter or the alternator is the problem, and therefore, you can refer to the guide below on how to start a car battery dead to make your car run well.
Also Read: Reasons Why Your Car Battery Keeps Draining & How To Stop It?
How To Jumpstart A Car By Yourself – Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Position Both Vehicles Correctly
How to jumpstart a car by yourself starts with the working vehicle being parked close enough to the battery that you can reach with the jumper cables, but ensure that the cars are not touching. Make sure that both cars are in a safe, level place, turn on the hazard lights, and engage the handbrake.
This arrangement is simple and secure to go on with when figuring out how to start a car that has a dead battery. In case you are not confident, you can still call a mobile mechanic near me or a car battery repair centre, but the majority of drivers can do this step by themselves.
Step 2: Turn off both vehicles
Before you think of doing a car jump-start on your own, ensure that both the vehicles are turned off completely. Engines, lights, radio, and AC should all be switched off. It is for the prevention of sparks and for the safety of the electrical system while the cables are being handled.
Step 3: Locate Both Batteries And Identify Terminals
Now open the bonnet of both cars and have a quick look at the batteries. You will find two connection points on each battery – the positive (+) red terminal and the negative (–) black terminal. These are the places where you will connect the jumper cables. Knowing which terminal is which is the key to the entire How to jumpstart your car process, making it safer, and it also saves you from making mistakes when figuring out car battery died How to start.
Step 4: Connect Jumper Cables in the Correct Order
In order to jumpstart your car without any harm, put the jumper cables on the batteries in the correct sequence and connect the red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery that is discharged and then the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery that is charged.
After that, connect the black clamp to the negative terminal of the battery, which is charged, and finally, attach the remaining black clamp to a nice metal surface on the car that is dead.
In case you are not confident, you can go to a car battery repair centre or a car workshop in Perth for assistance or a safety check.
Step 5: Start the Working Vehicle
After that, turn on your vehicle with the healthy battery and keep it running for a couple of minutes. Power flowing from the good battery to the one that is dead via jumper cables will be enough after this time to make the dead battery work again. If the situation remains the same, it is better to have a car battery service specialist or call a mobile mechanic for help.
Step 6: Start the Dead Vehicle
Try to turn your car off after the car with the working battery has been running for a few minutes. If it manages to start the car with the dead battery, keep the engine running to recharge the battery. Otherwise, the battery may be extremely drained, and then you will have to get your car battery replacement Perth or call a mobile mechanic for assistance.
Step 7: Remove Jumper Cables in Reverse Order
After the dead car is able to start, you should untie the jumper cables one by one in the reverse order in which you connected them with great caution. The black clamp should be taken off the metal surface of the car first and then from the battery; that is good.
After that, take the red clamp off the working battery and, lastly, the jumper cable from the revived car. If your car continues to turn off, then it is a signal that you will need a proper battery service and probably a free car inspection for a full check.
Step 8: Keep the Jumpstarted Car Running
After reviving your vehicle, allow it to idle for around 15-20 minutes so the battery can store enough power. It is even better if you take a short drive because the alternator charges the battery is quickly while you are driving. If the engine turns off again or is weak, it indicates that the battery or charging system is not in good condition.
How to Start a Car with a Dead Battery (Other Methods)
1. How To Jumpstart A Car By Yourself by Push Start method (Manual Cars Only)
If you have a manual car, pushing it to start is possible by turning the ignition to the ON position, pressing the clutch, shifting to the second gear, and letting someone push the car until it gains speed. Start the engine by releasing the clutch. In case of failure, hire a car safety check Perth.
2. Use a Portable Jump Starter
With a portable jump starter, you can quickly give a dead battery a new life – just attach the clamps, turn on the device, and start your car. It is perfect when no one can help you. If the battery discharges again, check it with the best car service Perth.
3. Call a Professional
If nothing is functioning, please contact a mobile mechanic near me or a mobile auto electrician to perform the safest jumpstart or battery replacement. If there are major issues, get in touch with the best tow truck company or a tow truck Australia service that you can trust to take your vehicle to the best car service Perth for repairs.
Conclusion
Jumpstarting a car by yourself will definitely empower you to deal with a battery issue unexpectedly, without getting stressed out. No matter whether you are stuck at home, in a parking lot, or on the road, performing the right steps will assure your safety and get you going again.
However, if your battery keeps dying or your car is having a hard time starting, you should probably find out the car battery service cost and take your car to a full car servicing Perth to make sure that there are no electrical or charging problems under the hood. Regular maintenance will not only slow down the expiration of your battery but also be a preventive measure for future breakdowns.
Also Read: AGM Vs Lithium Battery: Which One Is Best For My Car In Australia?
FAQs
1. Can you jumpstart a car alone?
Answer 1:
Yes, it is possible to jump-start a car when alone, only if you have jumper cables or a portable jump starter and take the right safety precautions.
2. How do you start a dead car without a jumpstart?
Answer 2:
Besides, you have a few other options, such as doing a push start (for manual cars only), using a portable jump starter, or calling a mobile mechanic for assistance.
3. What are common jumpstarting mistakes?
Answer 3:
Some of the most common mistakes when it comes to jumpstarting are connecting clamps in the wrong order, touching metal parts together, or attaching the black clamp to the dead battery.
4. What’s the correct order for jumping a car?
Answer 4:
The proper sequence for the connection of jump starter clamps is red to dead, red to good, black to good, and black to a metal surface on the dead car.
5. Do you plug red or black first?
Answer 5:
The recommendation is to always connect the red (positive) clamp first and remove it last when disconnecting the clamps.
