Jumpstarting Your Car: 3 Helpful Tips For Beginners

Nearly every motorist will experience a time when they need to jumpstart their car. Whether your battery has died or your alternator has stopped working, jumpstarting your car can get you on the road and rolling quickly and easily.

Jumpstarting may be straightforward for most, but it can be tricky for beginners. We've put together a few tips to help if you ever need to jumpstart your car. Ensure you have the right equipment, follow the correct steps, and always practice safety. 

Before you jumpstart your car, you must check a few things first. Understanding the exact cause of a problem is more important than rushing to jumpstart your car. If you're unsure about anything, don't hesitate to call a tow truck or ask a friend for help.

Troubleshooting Before You Start

If your car doesn't start, it could be due to several reasons. These are just a handful of the main things you can check before you call a tow truck or a mechanic or if you decide to jumpstart your vehicle.

• Check the battery: Ensuring the battery terminals are clean and tight is the first step. If the battery is more than three years old, it may need to be replaced.

• Check the fuel level: If the fuel tank is empty, you'll need to add gasoline before the car starts.

• Check the oil level: If you see that the level of the oil is low, it may need to be changed. If your oil runs low for too long, your engine could be damaged.

Although these seem like very basic or obvious things to check, they are often overlooked in the panic of a car not starting.

What Tools Do You Need To Jumpstart Your Car?

When jumpstarting your car, you'll need a few things to get the current flowing back into your battery. The most important thing you'll need is a set of jumper cables.

Jumper cables are long, thick wires that transfer current from one battery to another. Most jumper cables are color-coded, so you can easily tell which ones are positive and negative.

In addition to jumper cables, you'll also need a working car with a good battery. The car will be used to provide the current needed to jumpstart your dead battery.

You can also use a portable power pack if you don't have jumper cables. These are small, lightweight batteries that can be used to jumpstart your car. Portable power packs are becoming more popular, but they can be expensive.

Considering safety reasons, it's always best to use jumper cables. If you don't have jumper cables and must use a portable power pack, read the instructions carefully before using it.

What Safety Considerations Should You Take When Jumpstarting Your Car?

Between safe procedures and the use of safety equipment, there are a few safety considerations to take when jumpstarting your car:

• Wear gloves: When handling the jumper cables, it's essential to wear gloves. The current running through the cables can be dangerous, and you don't want to risk getting a shock.

• Remove jewelry: Any jewelry you wear, such as a watch or ring, should be removed. Jewelry can conduct electricity, which could give you a shock.

• Always ensure your engine is turned off: Before attaching the jumper cables, ensure both engines are turned off. Once the cables are attached, the working car's engine can be turned on.

• Be careful not to touch the car's metal parts: Once the jumper cables are attached, be careful not to make contact with any of the metal parts of either car. The current running through the cables can give you a shock.

Keep your hands and feet at a safe distance from the engine. Make sure you remain wary of when the car turns back on and the internal parts, such as the fan, start moving.

What Are Some Jumpstarting Tips For Absolute Beginners?

If you're entirely new to the process of jumpstarting a car, here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Find someone to help you: It's always best to have two people when jumpstarting a car. One person can stay in the car with the engine off while another attaches the jumper cables.

• Read the instructions: Before starting, it's essential to read them. This will help you understand the process and ensure you're doing it correctly. Most jumper cables come with basic instructions, and there are always some included alongside portable power packs.

• Be careful: Jumpstarting a car can be dangerous, so it's important to be careful. Make sure you follow all of the safety precautions and don't touch any of the metal parts of the car while the cables are attached.

• Ensure the car is safely parked: Once you have the car jump started, make sure it's parked in a safe location. If the car is not properly parked, it could roll and cause an accident once it starts back up.

If you need professional help, always consult with a certified mechanic or contact roadside assistance. Improperly jumpstarting a car can damage the engine or battery and cause other serious problems, so if you're not completely confident before you attempt jumpstarting, wait for a professional.

How Can You Prevent The Need To Jumpstart Your Car In The First Place?

There are quite a few reasons why your battery may have died in the first place, such as leaving the lights on or not driving the car often enough. However, there are some things you can do to help prevent the need to jumpstart your car:

• Check the battery regularly: It's a good idea to check your battery regularly, especially if you don't drive often. You can check the battery yourself with a voltmeter or take it to a mechanic to have it checked.

• Drive the car regularly: If you don't drive often, the battery can drain and die. Make an effort to drive the car as often as possible in order to prevent battery problems as well as other issues.

• Turn off lights and electronics where possible: When you're not using them, be sure to turn off all lights and electronics in the car. These can drain the battery even when the car is turned off.

• In cold weather, keep the car plugged in: In cold weather, it's a good idea to keep the car plugged in. This will help you to keep the battery charged and prevent it from dying. Cold weather causes the battery to work harder, which can lead to a dead battery.

If you have a busy lifestyle, it can be a good idea to take the time to prevent the need to jumpstart your car. By following these tips, you can help avoid a dead battery and the need to jumpstart your car when you are in a pinch.

Other Considerations To Make

If your car is experiencing regular issues, you can always consider an upgrade to a vehicle with a higher-quality engine. If you regularly have to endure cold weather and therefore don't regularly use your vehicle, then you may be better off changing it out for a more reliable model.

If you frequently use your car for long journeys, then you should make sure that you keep it well-maintained to avoid any issues. Ultimately, if you are regularly jumpstarting your car, it may be time to consider an upgrade.

Having a vehicle that has been thoroughly inspected for quality by a reliable company can help you relax while knowing that your car is less likely to need regular jumpstarts. Being wise with your money and making savvy choices when buying a car can save you a huge deal of time, money, and hassle in the long run.