#Jump starters for car how to

What If the Car Dies After You Remove the Cables? “I’d disconnect as soon as you get it started,” Hines tells us. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should leave the two cars attached for long. So when you’re jumpstarting a car, the battery will do its job and absorb that spike.” “But it can also act as a sort of electrical shock absorber. “People think of the battery as something that only puts out or stores electricity,” he tells us. Having both cars running with the batteries connected won’t do any immediate harm. You don’t have to rush this part, according to Hines. Once the dead car is running, hop out and disconnect the cables in the opposite order you connected them. “If that can’t be found then it goes straight to the negative battery terminal. “The last remaining negative jump lead would go to, preferably, a ground point on the dead car,” Hines says. Now, take one lead of the negative jumper cable (almost always marked in black) and connect it to the negative terminal (-) on the good battery. Next, take the other side of that same positive cable and connect it to the positive terminal (+) of the good battery. First, take one lead of the positive cable (usually marked in red or orange) and connect it to the positive terminal (+) of the dead battery. Once the cars are in the right place and turned all the way off, you can start connecting the cables. “So when you make the connection you will have sparks, and sparks are scary.” Cable Connection Order “If ignition is on, then you have more of a load than just a dead battery,” Hines says. Yes, that means the car with the dead battery as well. The next step? After you get the cars parked close enough where a connection can be made, make sure both cars are completely, totally shut off. You want to ensure they’ll be able to make a good connection between the two car batteries without grounding out on another part of the car. It’s also a good idea to inspect the cables themselves for signs of damage or exposed wire. And an explosion with battery acid is not a party you want to get into.” “There’s a possibility that it could explode. “If you suspect at all the dead battery is frozen, do not try to jump start it,” he tells us. That means it can freeze and expand if it’s left out in the cold. Over time, the acid’s potency can weaken to the point where the liquid is mostly just water. Most car batteries contain a liquid that’s part sulfuric acid and part water. If a battery is swollen beyond its normal dimensions, you could have an even bigger problem on your hands, according to Hines. Not everyone has the luxury of discovering they have a dead battery while their car is nestled somewhere safe and away from the elements. Their uses are limited, as Hines points out. Charger boxes and trickle chargers, most often found in mechanic shops and storage facilities, are used to keep projects or stored vehicles charged as they sit for long periods of time.

“My first choice would be to use a battery charger if you were in a situation with a dead battery,” Hines tells Road & Track. Your manufacturer’s suggestions may differ from the instructions below.

#Jump starters for car how to

If anyone understands how to bring an electrically-starved car back from the dead, it’s him.īefore you read any further, we suggest consulting your car’s owner’s manual for exact instructions on how to jump-start your vehicle. Hines is North America’s only factory-certified McLaren F1 technician, which means his day job revolves around working on $20-million exotics. Road & Track spoke with Kevin Hines, senior technician at McLaren Philadelphia, to learn the correct way to revive a dead battery and jump-start a car safely. Looking for how to jump a car through the air? Click here for our step-by-step guide. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to revive your car and get you back on the move, with tips from an expert mechanic. A dead battery in your car can mean the difference between getting home safely and being stuck somewhere for hours.