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. Show
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 jump start battery take to charge?When you arrive back home, it's important to recharge the jump starter as soon as you can. Most portable jump starters will plug directly into an AC outlet. Recharge the unit for at least 3 hours. Some units will require 12-24 hours for a complete charge.
Will a battery recharge itself after a jump start?Since cells do not produce energy, they do not have any other mechanism to charge themselves. Simply put, no car battery, whether healthy or dead, can charge itself. It always requires an external power source to get charged.
How long should I drive my car after a jump start?Once you've jump started your car, you should drive for at least 30 minutes (in normal driving conditions, not heavy traffic) before stopping to give your battery long enough to build up some charge.
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