18th July 2023
A flat car battery is a disaster in any situation, particularly if you are in a rush. If your key is struggling to start your motor, a jump start may help do the job. But what exactly is a jump start?
A jump start, or boost, is the process of starting a vehicle that has a discharged battery. There are different ways to jump start your car, with leads or with a battery booster pack.
A battery booster pack, also known as a jump start battery pack, is designed for emergency use to help start a car's engine. It does this by delivering a charge to a low or flat battery. We recommend keeping a jump start battery pack in your vehicle, especially if you drive often.
Before using a battery booster pack, you should:
Firstly, you want to ensure that the jump start battery pack is fully charged and ensure you place it on a stable surface. This is to make sure it will not fall once the engine starts.
You should then connect the jump leads. Connect the positive (+) red jump lead from the battery pack to the positive (+) end of the car battery.
From here, you should connect the negative (-) black jump lead to either the chassis or engine block. This should be anything that is unpainted.
You should now begin to switch on the battery booster pack.
Now you should attempt to turn on your car by turning the key in your ignition. If after a few times, your car still does not start – this indicates a serious issue that needs to be checked over by a professional.
If the car starts, let the engine run for approximately 5 minutes. After this, switch off the battery booster pack and let the engine run for around 5-10 minutes.
Now you should turn off the engine and remove the jump leads in the reverse order you first placed them. So, remove the negative (-) black jump lead first, and then the positive (+) red jump lead.
Lastly, you should try starting your vehicle again by turning the key in the ignition until it turns on.
It is important to note that once you have successfully managed to jump start your car, the engine will need to be recharged again fully.
Typically, car batteries last anywhere between 5 to 7 years. However, here at Merityre we recommend changing your car battery once you notice any signs of deterioration.
At Merityre Specialists, we provide a comprehensive battery check as well as stocking a wide range of car batteries for most cars. Book in for your free check today at your local branch or contact us to find out more.