As a car owner, you should know how to jump start a dead car battery. This is one of the crucial car care tips when your car won’t start. This information can help you continue your journey. 

It is useful to know how to jump start an automobile safely. You will save a ton of time and effort using it. This is extremely important to remember in an emergency.

When Do You Need to Jump Start a Car Battery?

Sometimes, a car battery may lose its charge. This may happen due to various reasons. Some instances include leaving lights on or due to harsh weather conditions. Even an aging battery can damage your engine’s charge. If you try to start your car and face any of the below issues, it may point to a bad battery:

- You hear clicking sounds 

- You see dimming lights 

- You find it difficult to start the engine

In this situation, you may need to go for jump starting as one of the ideal car care tips.

Step by Step Guide to Jump-Starting a Car Battery

[1] Find a Working Vehicle

Locate a vehicle with a charged battery. You can use this car for jump-starting. Park the two cars close enough for the jumper cables to reach. But make sure they are not touching.

[2] Prepare the Jumper Cables

Put on safety gloves and goggles if available. Turn off the ignition in both vehicles. Then, get the jumper cables to use it. You can untangle them if necessary.

[3] Identify Battery Terminals

You should recognize the positive and negative terminals on both car batteries. They are typically labelled red for positive and black for negative. If not labelled, check the owner’s manual for guidance.

[4] Connect the Jumper Cables

- Attach the red jumper clamp to the positive end of the dead battery.

- Now, you can join the other end of the red jumper cable to the positive end of the working battery.

- Next, join one end of the black jumper cable to the negative end of the working battery.

- Now, you will be left with the remaining end of the black jumper cable. Fix this to an unpainted metal surface. This surface should be away from the dead battery. Some good examples may be the bolt or bracket.

[5] Start the Working Vehicle

Now, you can start the engine of the working vehicle. Let it run for a few minutes to charge the dead battery.

[6] Attempt to Start the Dead Vehicle

Wait for a few minutes. Then try starting the stranded car’s engine. If it doesn’t start, then wait a few more minutes. Repeat the step.

[7] Disconnect the Jumper Cables

Once the dead vehicle starts, carefully disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order of how they were connected:

- Remove the black jumper cable from the metal surface of the stranded car.

- Detach the black jumper cable from the negative terminal of the active battery.

- Remove the red jumper cable from the active battery’s positive side.

- Lastly, detach the red jumper cable from the dead battery’s positive side.

[8] Drive the Vehicle

After jump-starting the deactivated car, drive it around for at least fifteen minutes. Doing it lets the alternator charge the battery fully.

To sum up

This was a small guide to jump starting your car. Remember to exercise caution with these car care tips. Follow safety precautions while jump-starting a car battery. This precaution helps avoid injury or damage to vehicles. If jump-starting does not work or if the battery repeatedly dies, then it is a problem. You may need professional assistance to overcome this problem.