Your automobile abruptly stops working as you are rushing to a crucial meeting. You try to start the engine, but even after hearing a few clicking noises, nothing happens. What ought you to do? Do not worry and first, relax. If your automobile will not start, it may just require a small spark from your ignition to keep the engine going. A typical automotive issue that just requires a modest maintenance, or in this case, a quick jumpstart, is a depleted battery.

How to Determine If a Battery Has Been Discharged?

It is crucial for you to separate a drained battery from other automotive difficulties since a number of issues might cause your engine to fail. Jumpstarting your battery will not help if your engine makes a cranking noise after you turn on the ignition. 

However, if your engine will not start, you should buy a multimeter and check your battery’s voltage. Despite the fact that voltages might differ from one car to the next, the metre should show at least 12 volts while the engine is off. If not, you should get your jumper cables ready.

What do You Need?

• A wire brush
• A good set of jumper cables with rust-free clamps
• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves
• A different vehicle, which is powered by a battery that has the same voltage as your car battery

Steps in Jumpstarting a Car

• First, confirm that the voltage of the fully charged and depleted batteries is the same. Otherwise, you run the danger of harming your car’s electrical system.
• Without touching, the two automobiles must be parked facing each other. There should be at least 18 inches between the two.
• Then, take the keys out of the ignition and turn the automobiles off. To stop the automobiles from moving, use the brakes on both vehicles.
• The negative and positive connections of both batteries may be found by opening the hoods of both vehicles. Next, arrange the jumper cables as follows:
• Connect the positive, red jumper cable clamp to the discharged battery’s positive terminal.
• A functional battery’s positive terminal should be connected to the opposite end of the positive, red jumper wire clamp.
• The negative, black jumper cable clamp should be connected to the battery’s negative terminal.
• The metallic portion of your engine block should be connected to the negative, black jumper cable clip. Avoid connecting the negative clamp to the discharged battery’s negative terminal since doing so might cause the battery’s gases to catch fire.
• Turn on the ignition of the working vehicle.
• Before starting the discharged car, wait a little while. The optimal time to restart a battery varies on how long the car has not been used, so wait a few more seconds if it still will not start.
• Reverse the order of the jumper cables’ disconnection once the car has started to run. For the battery to fully charge, let the car run for around 30 minutes.

Jumpstarting a car is similar to jumpstarting other vehicles. Just keep in mind to use caution whenever you apply this rule, especially when electric current is involved. Always ask a qualified technician for assistance when in doubt. For prompt service, contact a Smart Mechanics car mechanic in Hertfordshire, Bishops Stortford, Stansted, or Essex straight away.