Batteries Imagine this: you’re headed out on your next big road trip adventure. You’ve carefully packed your bags, stowed away snacks, filled up your gas tank ahead of time, and found the perfect routes to get where you want, with amazing sights along the way. It’s only when you’re greeted by a dreaded “click” after placing your key in the ignition that you realize you’re not going anywhere. At least until you jumpstart your battery. Don’t fret! Reviving your battery doesn’t need to be filled with sparks and hours wasted. Just follow these simple steps to get powered up and back to your vacation. Get powered up with these must-haves:Jumper cables: You should always keep a handy pair of jumper cables in your car. They can come in varying lengths, normally 10-20 feet. While longer cables can reach farther, you risk losing power as the energy travels along the extra length. Ensure that the cables you use are not rusted, frayed or damaged. A car with a working battery: Unless you’ve got a power box on hand, you’ll need another car to get your battery juiced up. However, it must be the same voltage as the car being jumped. Most car batteries are 12.6 volts or above. If you own a more unique vehicle, such as an RV, consult your owner’s manual before getting or giving a jump. Rag or paper towel: This one is optional, but useful if your battery terminals are dirty. Before jumping, wipe them clean to allow for an optimal jump. Recharge with these steps:If your car won’t start the next time you take it for a spin, you may have a battery problem. Stop by your local Firestone Complete Auto Care for a free battery check! And if you’re in the market for a new battery, compare car batteries online, and check out our special online pricing. Top It’s a horrible feeling - jump in the car on a winter’s morning, turn the key, and the starter motor groans and fails to fire up the engine. This may mean a dead battery but, if your battery is merely flat it may just need a jump start to get it going again. If you're not sure that the issue is definitely being caused by the battery, find out how to tell if you have a flat battery here.
How to jump start a car with jump leadsThe most common and effective means of getting your car going with a flat battery is by using jump leads. What do I need to jump start a car with jump leads?
Safety precautions before jump starting a car with jump leadsWhen jump starting a vehicle, it’s important not to take risks. Consult your owners manual first and if you’re not confident that you know what you’re doing, give RAC Breakdown a call on 0330 159 1111 and we’ll be happy to help.
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How to safely remove the jump leads
After the leads have been removedRestart the engine on the casualty vehicle. The battery will need to recharge fully for it to be fully serviceable, which is best achieved using a quality battery charger for several hours. In the meantime, if possible, drive the vehicle normally (not in heavy traffic) for around 30 mins to try to put some charge back into the battery.
Bump starting a carThe RAC do not recommend bump starting vehicles. Please follow the advice in the How to jump start a car with jump leads or How to jump start a car with a portable battery pack sections. How to jump start a car with a portable battery packIf you're worried about getting stranded with a flat battery when you are unable to call for help or seek assistance from someone, then you can buy a portable battery pack as a precaution, to keep you mobile if your battery goes flat. These can be purchased from the RAC shop and are able to jump start a car without the use of another vehicle.
Before you startWhen jump starting a vehicle, it’s important not to take risks. Consult your owners manual first and If you’re not confident that you know what you’re doing, give the RAC a call on 0330 159 1111 and we’ll be happy to help.
Jump starting with a portable battery packFirst check that the battery pack is fully charged. Locate the vehicle battery - usually situated in the engine bay under the bonnet, but in some vehicles, it is located in the boot. It’ll probably be hidden under a plastic cover – unclip this and you should see the battery with its two terminals. Connect the positive (red) lead from the battery pack to the positive (+) terminal of the battery. Connect the negative (black) lead to a good earth point on the casualty vehicle – a solid metal part of the engine is usually best. Stand the battery pack on the ground next to the vehicle, the leads are usually long enough to reach the battery. Avoid placing it on the engine as it might fall off when the engine starts. Once the battery pack is connected, switch on the pack and attempt to start the vehicle as you normally would. If it doesn’t start after a few attempts, it might be more serious than a flat battery. In this event, seek professional help by calling the RAC on 0330 159 1111. If the vehicle does start, keep the engine running for about 5 minutes. Switch off the engine, then switch off the battery pack and remove the leads from the battery pack. Now restart the engine again. The vehicles’ battery will need to recharge fully for it to be fully serviceable, which is best achieved using a quality battery charger for several hours. In the meantime, if possible, drive the vehicle normally (not heavy traffic) for around 30 mins to try to put some charge back into the battery. If your MOT is due or if you would like to book your vehicle in for a full car service, you can book online with your local RAC Approved Garage today. Hopefully you won't need this information anytime soon, but make sure you have breakdown cover, van breakdown cover or business breakdown cover sorted just in case! Jump starting a car FAQs
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How long does a dead battery take to jump?You should expect jumpstarting a dead battery to take five minutes, but in harsh conditions, it could take up to thirty minutes to jumpstart your car. You need to drive for at least fifteen minutes after a jumpstart to fully recharge the battery. If it's not working, it's easy to figure out why.
Can a car battery be so dead it won't take a jump?If a jump-start revives your engine, your problem was most likely a dead battery. If you cannot jump-start your car, the battery may be completely discharged or damaged. There are also several mechanical and electrical reasons why a car won't start when trying a jump–start, including the most frequent listed here.
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