As much as you can call a jump start car service or tow company whenever you are stuck, you can also learn how to do so by yourself.
The skill isn't difficult to grasp and learn, but most motorists also end up making costly mistakes while jumpstarting cars.
There is nothing as disappointing as when a driver turns on the car ignition only for the engine to fail to start.
Picture yourself in a situation where you are on a date, shopping, visiting a friend, or even driving from work. When this happens, one only needs a jump start to give life to a dead car battery.
The ignition switch is part of an assembly, or system, that includes the ignition lock cylinder, responsible for starting your car as well as providing power to specific areas of the automobile.
It routes power from the battery to the different control modules on the car.
A problem with the ignition switch is usually identified when a driver turns on the ignition lock and the lights fail to appear on the dashboard.
This means that power is not being sent from the car's solenoid terminal to the signal post of your starter.
To avoid potential mishaps, one needs to understand simple hacks in jump-starting a car the right way and avoid the mistakes mentioned herein.
Attaching the Wrong Cable to a Battery Post
New drivers make this mistake more often by connecting a positive and negative cable of the jumpstarting cable to the wrong battery post.
This mistake damages the plates which are quite difficult to replace.
Moreover, the mixed connection may melt car batteries and force the driver to purchase a new one. In extreme cases, a mixed connection may harm you while you jump start the car.
Ensure you know how to use jumper cables without confusing negative and positive connections.
Leaving Accessories On
Before jumpstarting, all car accessories must be turned off lest you damage the vehicle's electrical system.
It is advisable to turn off climate systems, lights, and any other accessories before jump-starting the battery.
Touching Clips Together
This is also among the most committed mistake done by new drivers seeking to restart a dead battery. This mishap should not happen after you have hooked up the first clip to the working car.
Always be careful moving and connecting the other three jumper cable clips.
Jumpstarting Battery with Cracks
It is never advisable to jumpstart a dead car battery that has cracks. Chances are very high that the cracked battery will leak harmful gases during the process which may later affect the car ignition system.
If a battery cracks, buy a new one.
Jumpstarting Battery with Dirty Terminals
Most mechanics advise motorists not to jumpstart a car with corroded terminals. Understanding routine battery maintenance is part of knowing how to jump-start a car.
The starter is the component that draws the most amount of electric current in your vehicle. Due to this, thick wires are attached to it from the battery.
The starter is usually located on the driver's side of the motor just below the left bank of cylinders.
"If the problem is the starter motor, you can remove the motor and check to see if the brushes make contact with the commutator, most of the time the brushes are worn out," a mechanic observed.
