There are things you do every day, like eating, sleeping, going to work/school, etc. And there are things you seldom do, like jumpstarting your car. And when you do need to, the lack of frequency can leave you grasping for clues even if you already know how to jump a car.
Of course, the process is pretty straightforward and safe, provided you don’t make any of these mistakes while jumping your car:
Table of Contents
1. Incorrectly Connecting the Batteries
When jumping your car, mistakenly coupling positive to negative and vice versa could fry all your car’s electrical components or cause an explosion. You should always connect the positive cable to the dead battery’s positive terminal before connecting the other end of the positive cable to the positive terminal on the donor battery.
Then, connect the negative cable to the negative terminal on the donor battery before grounding the dead car by connecting the other end of the negative cable to an unpainted metal part.
2. Jumping a Cracked or Leaking Battery
You’re asking for trouble if you notice a crack or a leak and decide to go ahead with the jump. Jumping or reconditioning a compromised battery can cause an explosion from the released gasses. Therefore, it’s best to avoid jump-starting such a battery or working on it.
If you notice any physical damages, the best option is to contact a towing company to move your vehicle. Plus, it goes without saying that you should always inspect your battery for cracks or leaks before working on it.
3. Allowing the Jumper Cables To Dangle
When jumping a car, ensure you’re aware of everything around and in front of you. This includes all four ends of the jumper cables. Once you start connecting the clamps, they acquire a charge. You can get a shock if that charge hits a puddle or ignite a spark if the cable drops down towards your fender.
Also, If the red and black ends touch each other, you could damage the battery and the car or shock yourself. So stay alert and consider the cables live once you begin.
4. Jumpstarting Your Car in Rainy Conditions
Jumping a wet car can be pretty dangerous. This is because water is a better conductor of electricity than skin. And a good amount of it will lessen the skin’s physical barrier, allowing the current to flow through. Low temperatures and extreme snow can also freeze the battery fluid, and jumpstarting in that state could cause an explosion. So, whenever it is raining heavily or snowing, put off jumpstarting until it stops.
5. Using Poor Cables
Always ascertain the quality, durability, and strength of your jumper cables. For best practices, ensure your jumper cables are physically in good condition, color-coded, and at least 3 meters (12 feet) long. Always inspect for damaged insulation or strained wires before using them.
Overall, jumpstarting is an easy way to get a dead battery running again. Just ensure to avoid any of the mistakes mentioned above, and you should be good to go.
