A car may start for years without incident in any kind of climate, but at some point, it may suddenly become impossible for it to do so anymore.
In this article, we will explain how to handle the jumper cable in the event that it is in this situation.
Putting a cap on mistakes
When the car won’t start, bypassing isn’t always the answer to everything that needs to be fixed. Every car has a different braking and starting system.
Depending on the nature of the problem, the inability to start the car may have several causes. These are the three instances that occur most frequently:
1. Turning the key in the ignition does not cause the vehicle to react.
2. The lights on the dashboard dimly illuminate, and when you turn the key in the ignition, you hear a click or a feeble attempt to get the engine started.
3. Even though the starter motor is turning over perfectly, the vehicle will not start.
The first possible explanation is that the battery was used until it was completely depleted. On the other hand, the battery can only get to this point if the vehicle has been sitting still for several weeks or months.
If the engine was still running the day before, there should be a slight blinking of the instrument panel lights.
On the other hand, if the automobile seems to be completely “dead,” there is typically another explanation for this phenomenon: Because of some unknown issue, the connection between the battery and the circuit has been severed.
This might happen if a pole has moved, a wire has broken, or there has been a considerable buildup of corrosion on the ground wire.
In this particular scenario, the wiring ought to be examined first. It’s possible that the positive red wire has also become dislodged.
On the other hand, this flaw frequently manifests itself on the black negative wire. The issue will be fixed if one of the cables is discovered to be dangling close to the battery.
If the vehicle is more substantial, the black cable that connects the battery to the body of the vehicle has been severed.
Following the polishing of the contact points on both sides, the cable is reattached using the screws. A little bit of pole grease is all that is needed to restore the area’s protection against corrosion.
In the event that this does not work, there may be a problem with one of the fuses. Because of this, it is essential to check the fuses before attempting to jump-start the car; otherwise, the attempt will be unsuccessful.
The second scenario is typical of a battery that has been discharged, as described in the previous scenario.
However, this condition can be more likely if the ground wire’s contact deteriorates. A straightforward bypass is what’s needed to fix this problem.
In the third situation, the vehicle obtains enough current to start the starter motor but not enough gasoline or an ignition spark to start the engine, and in diesel engines, the preheating unit may be damaged as a result of a malfunction.
To find what you need to know about gasoline engines, it is usually sufficient to look under the hood: If a cable for the ignition is missing from where it should be, the root of the problem has already been identified.
It is quite possible for an ignition cable to become dislodged as a result of the intense vibrations that are produced by an engine.
The car should start again as soon as it is reinstalled in its proper location.
In diesel cars in most cases, the preheating fuse is the component that has a problem. The location of the button is detailed in the manual that came with the product. This is checked, and if necessary, it will be replaced. After everything is done, the diesel engine needs to be restarted.
Putting the car into park and applying the brakes gradually
It’s easy to forget to turn off the lights, which is one of the most common causes of dead batteries.
Additionally, a parking light has the potential to deplete the power stored in the battery in a matter of hours, rendering the vehicle unable to be started.
Because contemporary vehicles have intricate electronic systems, cutting off another vehicle can pose a threat not only to the primary vehicle but also to the auxiliary vehicle.
Therefore, it is imperative to carry out the steps as described in the letter in order to prevent expensive subsequent damage.
1. Make sure you’re using the right jumper cord.
2. Make sure the starter cable is connected.
3. A key is turned to the on position.
4. Disconnect the cable that controls the starter.
5. Additional measures
1. The appropriate extension cable
Poor-quality or inadequate jumper cables have the potential to seriously harm both vehicles’ electronics, including overheating and burning out.
There are three distinguishing features that are indicative of a high-quality cable:
1. It is made to be used with diesel-powered cars (the 25 mm2 aluminum cross-section is equivalent to the 16 mm2 copper cross-section)
2. The clamps have a powerful grip, are completely insulated, and both contact surfaces are connected to the primary cable.
3. The cable includes protection against overvoltage.
The cost is the aspect with the fewest moving parts. From fifty dollars and up, you can purchase a jumper cable that is of high quality, safe, and functional.
When starting a diesel engine with a starter cable designed for a gasoline vehicle, cheaper cables typically burn out after two to three attempts.
This is especially true if you want to use the gasoline vehicle’s starter cable to start the diesel engine.
The clamps’ high level of quality can be seen in the traits listed below:
When the door is shut, there is no exposed metal to be seen.
– You must apply pressure in order to release the clamp
– The clamps have a connection made to the main cable on both of their contact surfaces.
A little box that is usually black and placed in the middle of the cable serves as surge protection. This box connects the black and red wires.
LEDs are typically included in the package as well. This safety feature is of the utmost significance for the auxiliary vehicle. This not only protects the electronic system as a whole but also reliably prevents voltage peaks from occurring.
2. Hooking up the cable for the starter
The starter cable is attached in the following manner:
1. Place the vehicles close enough to one another so that the red positive cable can pass from one battery to the next.
2. Remove the coverings from the poles after turning off the stator and the engine.
3. Activate the light on the vehicle that is being received
4. Join the positive red wires of the two vehicles together.
5. Complete the electrical circuit by connecting the bodies using the black cable, so that the circuit is closed.
Warning, there is the potential for an explosion!
It is imperative that the black cable NOT be connected to the negative poles of the battery in any way. Only the ground points of both cars can be connected to it at the same time.
In the process of closing the electrical circuit, a spark will be produced at the negative pole. As a result, it ought to be kept at a safe distance from the battery.
The following locations meet the criteria:
- Intended connection points, which are denoted by the symbol (-)
- Hood or trunk locks
- Engine mount
- Vacuum certain areas of the engine
If the electrical circuit is closed correctly, the light on the receiving car should illuminate or glow brightly in response. You can be absolutely certain that the car will start now.
WARNING: Be careful not to get the relationships mixed up!
If the wires are connected improperly, particularly if the poles are switched around, then damage to both vehicles is inevitable and cannot be avoided. In the absolute worst case, both of the batteries could burst into flames!
WARNING: Jumper cables should never have their length extended by connecting multiple cable clamps together. Your only option is to remove the battery from the automobile being used as an auxiliary if the cord is too short to connect both cars.
3. Start the car by turning the ignition key
Before beginning to turn the engine over, each and every electrical consumer is turned off:
- Light
- Radio
- Windscreen wiper
- Heated rear window
- Seat heating
The engine of the auxiliary vehicle is started once the switches on all of the consumers have been turned off. After that, the initial attempt to start the vehicle can be made.
WARNING! You should only attempt short starts.
When trying to start an engine with an external power source, it is not a good idea to overload the stator because it could harm the engine.
Even the greatest jumper wires may eventually wear out due to this and catch fire. It is best to begin by making a number of brief attempts, and after each attempt that is unsuccessful, it is best to determine whether or not the issue can be contained.
4. Disconnect the cable from the starter.
After ensuring that both engines are operating normally, the negative cable is disconnected from the battery first, followed by the positive cable.
After this, the cables are tucked away, and the battery terminals’ protective caps are reinstalled.
WARNING!
In the event that a protective cap is not present, a replacement ought to be made without delay.
If a protective cover is not present during the inspection of a vehicle, the owner will be subject to a fine of 90$ and will receive a minus point for the violation. The same is true for batteries that are permanently installed!
5. After external starting
When the vehicle has been started, the battery will need to be recharged. It is necessary to drive for at least thirty to forty-five minutes in order to accomplish this goal, without the addition of new customers.
It is recommended to completely recharge the battery when the vehicle is being serviced at a shop that has a device for deep discharge. It’s possible that fully discharged batteries have a flaw.
It’s likely that the battery is self-discharging steadily since it can no longer store current. In order to avoid this impact and the following need for starting assistance, it is preferable to leave the car attached to a deep discharge device overnight.
The battery needs to be replaced if this doesn’t result in what you’re looking for.
However, it is important to pay attention going forward, so keep that in mind. When you exit the vehicle, make sure to turn off the lights and the radio before you do so.
