HOW TO JUMP-START A CAR- with and without cables.

Of course, car batteries won’t last forever. Sometimes they die, and when that happens, you have to determine if it can be jump-started, or if it should be replaced entirely.

Strictly speaking, the car battery can be jump-started if it isn’t frozen, cracked, leaking, or damaged in any capacity. When your car doesn't start, you most likely be have a dead battery and the fastest way to get back on the road is a quick jump start. This simple trick takes less than five minutes and only requires a set of jumper cables and another vehicle. When you are buying a new pair of Jump start cables, look for ones that are 4 to 6 gauge in size and at least 20 feet in length.

Remember that the positive terminal will be marked with a plus sign (+) and will usually have a red cable attached on it.The negative terminal will be marked with a minus sign (-) and will usually have a black cable attached to it.

Now let's get started....to jump start...You require: (a) Jump starting Cable (b) another car (or if at your home, if you have an inverter, it's battery(80ah to 100ah) is more than enough to start the dead battery!

1. Make sure the two vehicles are close together.(cars with good and dead battery)

Move the charger vehicle(with good battery) as close as you can to the vehicle that needs jump-starting.(with dead battery) Ensure that the two vehicles aren’t touching each other in any way.

2. Ensure the ignition is off in both vehicles.

Ensure that both vehicles are off with the handbrake on. Make sure that the radio, headlights, air conditioning and interior lights are off in both vehicles. Both vehicles should be in park (automatic) or neutral (manual).

3. Connecting the Jump start cables.

Open the bonnets on both vehicles and locate the batteries.Connecting the leads properly is important because reverse connecting the battery terminals can cause damage to the battery, and damage to the electronic components and wiring of both vehicles.

Firmly connect one of the red cable to the positive (+) terminal on the car with the dead battery then connect the other end of the red cable to the positive (+) terminal on the car with the good battery. Connect one end of the black cable  to the negative (-) terminal on the car with the good battery then connect the other end of the black cable to an unpainted metal surface anywhere in the engine compartment of the car with the dead battery– even a bolt or crossbar will do. Unless you want to see flying sparks and a possible explosion, do not connect the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery.

This can cause an electrical spark .

4. Start the car with the charged battery( good battery)-

Starting the charger vehicle(with good battery) will begin the transfer of electricity into the dead battery. For best results, run the engine for 2 to 3 minutes before starting dead car.Now after 2 minutes, start the car with dead battery and give more gas.

Once the vehicle with the previously dead battery is running, turn off the charger vehicle’s(with good battery) engine.

5. Remove the jump start cables.

Always remove cables in reverse order only.

Remove the negative cable from the earth,(of the dead battery car) then from the other vehicle’s negative terminal(with good battery). After this, remove the positive cable from the newly charged vehicle,(dead battery car) followed by the charger vehicle.(good battery car)

6. Drive the newly charged vehicle.

The best way to fully charge a vehicle is by driving it. Within 30 minutes of driving, the battery should be capable of restarting your car.

Remember If the car won’t start the next time you use it, the battery isn’t holding a charge and needs to be replaced

The good news is that car batteries charge while the car is being driven. But it’s important to note that this only happens with fairly long trips – usually 20 minutes or so – without any stops in between. The battery’s most useful role is to help start the car. It’s also the time when the most amount of juice is taken from the battery, too. So if you continue to zapped the battery without letting it fully charge, you’re soon working at a deficit.

Note: Use a multimeter to test your battery voltage. It varies with vehicle types, but it should read slightly more than 12 volts when the vehicle is turned off. If your battery is in good shape, then it's time to troubleshoot other issues

HOW  TO  JUMP   START  A  CAR  WITHOUT  CABLES:

If you have a standard manual car, you can jump start without using cables. Here’s how you do it:

1. First, find a clear downhill road.

2. Fully depress the clutch (pressing the brakes)and put the car in first gear.

3. Turn the ignition to "on".

4. Take your foot slowly off the brake and let the car start rolling down the hill, leaving the clutch fully depressed.

5. Coast down the hill until you catch up with bit of speed.

6. Release the clutch quickly. You should feel the engine turn and start. If it doesn’t start the first time, depress the clutch and release it again.

Note: If you don’t have a hill, get someone  to give you a push and follow the steps as above!

How to avoid this problem in the future:

Car batteries lose charge over time, especially if they are often run flat. In order to preserve the life of your battery and avoid jump-starting, you should:

Use the stereo, headlights and AC sparingly when the car’s engine isn’t running.Make sure all doors are properly closed when you exit the vehicle and interior lights are turned off.Batteries drain over time, even if the car is off. If you are not going to use the car for a long period of time, consider disconnecting the battery.

Once you're running again, do a quick search to figure out what drained your battery in the first place. Did you leave your lights on? Is an aftermarket amplifier connected improperly? Most stock car batteries are not designed for multiple deep drains, and getting jump started too often can leave you with a battery that can no longer hold a charge or accept a jump, requiring replacement.

Drive safely   and  Happy  Motoring....