4 Dos to Remember When Jumpstarting Your Vehicle
Today's vehicles exert lots of pressure on the battery. From stereos to navigation and other electronic systems, your battery needs sufficient capacity to handle this high demand. Unfortunately, motorists end up with a dead battery because of many different reasons. Some may have forgotten to turn off their vehicle's electrical equipment, while others may not be taking good care of their battery over time.
The good news is that you can implement a quick fix for a dead battery. Jump-starting allows you to give your vehicle a 'spark' of energy so it starts and continues to run as normal. While jump-starting is generally safe and straightforward, consider the following four steps before getting started.
1. Have the right cables in place
You need to have proper jumper cables before attempting to jump-start your vehicle. There are many options in the market, so it helps to consult your car servicing professional to get advice on what you should use.
Jumper cables transmit an electrical current that flows into your battery. Thicker wires insulate this current better and can also carry more of it from one vehicle to another. You should also consider how long your actual cables are. The longer the cable, the more current is transferred.
2. If using another vehicle, minimise obstructions
Jump starting cables come as either stand-alone systems or as just the cables themselves. If using cables, you'll need another vehicle's battery to provide the juice necessary for a jump start. Motorists should know how to position their vehicles correctly for a jump start.
The ideal position is having the cars facing each other but without physically touching. Engage the parking brake on both vehicles to avoid any sudden movements.
3. Make sure the jumper cables are tightly attached
Most people already know the connections required positive to positive and negative to negative. However, you should also ensure that all cables are firmly attached to the battery terminals. Loose connections are a common reason why the jump-starting process doesn't work.
Even worse, loose connections can lead to a short circuit and further damage to the battery. Fasten all clamps firmly to each battery terminal before starting the process.
4. Get your battery professionally inspected
Finally, make sure that your car battery is inspected by a repair service soon after jump starting. A check-up will help you identify charging issues and implement repairs before further complications arise.
Contact a car servicing technician in your area for more information.