Car Jump Start Mistakes You Should Avoid

Whether you have a budget family car or an expensive one, eventually you might require to jumpstart it.

Wikipedia defines jumpstart as “a method of starting a vehicle with a discharged or dead battery. A temporary connection is made to the battery of another vehicle, or to some other external power source.”
While jumping a car isn’t rocket science, it can be a bit risky if performed without precautions.

Nearly 442 persons were injured by exploding batteries while jumpstarting their cars, according to a 1994 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.

If certain battery issues are making your car to lose battery charge, make sure to get it replaced or serviced. Pro tip: if you are not sure what you are doing, always contact a car mechanic as you can end up with huge damage to your car as well as the other vehicle being used for the jumpstart.
So be sure to avoid the common mistakes while jumpstarting your car.

Smoking near the Engine:

This is a big “no-no”. Smoking shouldn’t be done near the engine or anywhere in the car. The engine emits fumes and contains flammable fluids too. Smoking can risk your car as well as your life. Cigarette ash might ignite fumes in the hood, leading to a fire breakout that can damage the plastic components.

Resist your “puffing” urge while you are busy with jumpstarting your car.

Not Using Proper Tools:

Make sure to do jumpstarting with adequate tools given below:
• Clean jumper cables with rust-free clamps.
• Rubber work gloves.
• Safety Goggles.
• Wire Brush
• Another vehicle’s fully charged battery that is of the same voltage as the car being jumped.

Not Avoiding Contact with Any Metal:

Electricity goes through the cables that can electrocute it comes into contact with water. Contacting with metal will lead to spark that isn’t safe. Make sure to place the jumper cable securely. Avoid hanging or swinging it carelessly.

Using Jumper Cables with a Low Ampere:

The jumper cable should have higher amperes of electricity to recharge the failing battery. If the clams are not well connected, make sure to cover it with electric tape. It will deliver a better and faster charge to jumpstart the car. It is better if you replace a worn-out jumper cable with a newer one if required.

Not Knowing the Basics:

Battery terminals are marked plus (+) and (-) minus. The plus terminal is usually marked with the color red. To avoid causing an accident or the vehicle damage, the jumper cables should be connected appropriately and in the proper sequence. Before connecting the jumper cables, the battery should be sealed. All caps should be in place. Make sure to connect the positive cable first. The cable from the positive terminal on the starting car should be connected to the positive terminal on the stalled car.

Not Reading the Owner’s Manual:

Let’s accept it. Most drivers turn to their owner manual only when something goes wrong. The owner manual is designed to help you better understand your vehicle. From the dashboard to the jumpstart, your car owner manual has a wealth of information.

Therefore, you should read your owner’s manual before performing a jumpstart. New car models often come with jumpstart lugs where the cables are required to be attached, instead of directly to the battery terminals. Moreover, some manufacturers don’t recommend jumpstarting the vehicle at all, and doing so may affect the warranty.

In some cars, certain steps should be kept in mind such as removing a fuse or activating the defroster. The point is here that you should read the owner’s manual before jumpstarting the car.