As the name specifies, jump starters help you jump-start your vehicle. Almost all vehicle owners have been in a situation when they hop into the driving seat and realize that the engine isn’t turning. Most experts recommend keeping jump-starting clips in your car. However, these are useless if you can’t find a nearby vehicle to jump-start your car.
Here a portable jump starter can get you back on the road in no time. Fortunately, manufacturers like NOCO, OSIAS, etc., have initiated many premium products. However, owning and using a jump starter are two different things.
Working Mechanism of a Jump Starter
Reading the manual is necessary before jump-starting your vehicle. For instance, vehicles with positive ground require a different jump start procedure. Moreover, some models don’t allow jump starting. So, you need to ensure your vehicle is compatible for a jump start before beginning.
Don’t forget to follow the safety measures. Wear protective glasses and clothing. Also, ensure that no flammable liquids or fuels are present near your jump-starting vehicle.
- Turn off the engine and remove the keys from the ignition switch.
- Open the bonnet of your car and examine the battery voltage; it must match the output voltage of the jump starter. Typically, vehicles use a 12-volt battery supply.
- Once all the evaluations are complete, connect the matching alligator clamps to the battery terminals. If you find corrosion on the battery terminals, remove it as it will hinder the power flow. Severe corrosion may altogether block the incoming voltage from the jump starter.
- Connect the red clamp to the battery’s positive terminal and the black one to the negative terminal.
Note: Some models have a detection system and start boosting the battery once you connect the terminals. Others feature a power-on button.
- Power on your jump starter and wait for it to boost the battery. Now, start the vehicle. Before starting the car, ensure that the jump starter is not present close to the engine’s moving parts.
- Avoid cranking the car for longer than five seconds. If your vehicle doesn’t start in the first go, wait for 2 to 3 minutes and then retry. If the vehicle remains unresponsive in 4 to 5 attempts, you may need a battery replacement.
Note: If you are thinking of rechecking the terminal connections, turn off the jump starter and the engine and then improve the connections.
- Once the vehicle starts, leave it running for some minutes before driving. Detach the jump starter terminals from the car’s battery and place them safely in your vehicle’s truck.
The Bottom Line
Although, the procedure to jump-start a vehicle is pretty straightforward. But it is best to follow preventive measures and consult the instruction manual so you don’t damage the battery.
You must ensure that the jump starter is fully charged; also, the battery configuration of your vehicle should match the output voltage of the jump starter. Observe that a jump starter only boosts the battery and cannot recharge your battery. So, if the engine remains static after some attempts, you need to get your battery inspected.
