How to Jump Start a Car
If your car won’t start when turning the key in the ignition or pressing the start/stop button, you may have a dead battery and, therefore, require a jump start. Luckily, with the right knowledge and equipment, this is something you can do yourself.
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how to safely jump-start your car.
Before attempting a jump start, you must ensure the following:
- The battery isn't leaking or damaged – if it is, you must not attempt a jump start and instead consult a professional mechanic.
- There are no naked flames nearby (including cigarettes)
- All clothing and metal items like jewellery are away from the battery
- The key is out of the ignition
What equipment do I need?
- Fully charged jump-starter kit that’s compatible with your vehicle’s battery
- Gloves and goggles to keep yourself safe
- High-visibility vest if you’re jump-starting your car at the side of the road.
Steps-by-step jump-start guide
- Step 1: Once you’ve completed the above safety checks, ensure your car’s handbrake is on before opening your bonnet and safely securing it upright.
- Step 2: Find the ‘positive’ terminal on your car battery. If your car battery is located in the boot, look out for a positive terminal under the bonnet. If you’re not sure where the car battery is located, consult your owner’s manual to find out.
- Step 3: take out your jump-starter kit and connect the red ‘positive’ lead to the ‘positive’ terminal located on the battery, and the black ‘negative’ lead to the negative terminal. Check both clamps are tightly gripping your battery terminals.
- Step 4: Now that both leads are connected, switch your power bank on. You should never turn a power bank on before it’s correctly connected to your car battery. Once your power bank is on, check your vehicle is not in gear and start the car’s engine. If the car doesn’t start within 5 seconds, wait 2 minutes and try again.
- Step 5: Once your car has started, let it run for one minute before turning your power bank off and removing both leads. Leave your car running for 20 minutes or take it for a short drive to recharge the battery.
- Step 6: Finally, remember to recharge your jump-starter kit before putting it back in your car.
Halfords battery fitting service
If you’re unsure or would like to know more about any of the equipment or processes in this article, simply pop into your local Halfords store, where one of our experts will be happy to help.
We also offer a free battery health check to determine the current health of your battery. If your car does require a new battery, our professional battery replacement service will ensure your battery is installed correctly, and we’ll even get rid of your old one for free.
Jump starter power pack
Save yourself some time and effort with this superb Halfords Advanced 3L Jump Starter Powerbank. Small but mighty, this mini jump starter can start a 12V vehicle up to 3L. It’s simple to use and comes with Safe Connect clamps, which provide an extra level of safety assurance. The jump starter also includes a USB port and an LED torch, making it ideal for night-time emergencies.
Invest in a smart charger
To prolong your battery life and save money on a replacement, regular maintenance is key. To learn more about keeping batteries healthy with a smart charger, read our article here.
Halfords Motoring Club
Whatever you need us for, we’re here to help save you money. Join the Halfords Motoring Club today to access a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.
It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
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