There are several reasons your car battery is weak (soak); including not starting the car engine for a long time, storing it outdoors in too cold temperatures, leaving the headlights or interior lights on when the engine is off, and much more. To charge a weak car battery, it takes a set of jumper cables and a working car with a charged battery. This way, you can connect the two batteries using jumper cables and charge a weak battery by transferring energy from the functional battery. Continue reading this article to learn more about the steps that need to be taken to safely and effectively charge a weak car battery using jumper cables.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Before Jump-Start
Step 1. Check the physical appearance of your car battery before starting the jump-start
Your battery must be intact with no cracks and there should be no visible battery acid leakage.
Do not attempt to jump-start your car if the battery shows any of these signs of damage, as this could result in injury to yourself or to others if you do so
Step 2. Put on safety glasses and rubber gloves before touching a weak car battery in any way
Goggles and gloves will protect your eyes and hands from the sulfuric acid that can escape from the battery.
Step 3. Make sure the wires connected to your car battery are safe and free of corrosion
If your battery cable is corroded, clean it as best you can using a brush with hard hair
Step 4. Position the working car right next to the car with the weak battery without allowing the vehicles to come into contact with each other
The ideal position to do this is by placing the cars side by side facing the same direction or by placing the two cars facing each other.
- Make sure the distance between each car battery is close enough to be connected with jumper cables. The length of jumper cables varies depending on the model and manufacturer.
- Do not try connecting two different pairs of jumper cables if the first cable is not long enough. This can melt jumper wires and create a fire.
Step 5. Turn off a working car with a charged battery
Method 2 of 2: Jump-Start on Weak Battery
Step 1. Open the hood or compartment where the battery is in each vehicle
Step 2. Observe the positive and negative terminals on each battery
The positive terminal is indicated by a plus sign (+) and the negative terminal is indicated by a minus sign (-).
Step 3. Connect the two positive ends of the jumper wires to the positive terminals of each battery
The positive jumper wire is usually red if it is not marked otherwise. The order of connecting the jumper wires will make a difference, then follow the following pattern: first, connect one end of the positive jumper cable to the weak battery, then connect the other end of the positive jumper cable to the charged battery.
Step 4. Connect one end of the negative jumper cable to the negative terminal of a working battery that has been charged
Usually, the negative jumper wire is black.
Step 5. Connect the other end of the negative jumper cable to the metal component embedded in the car where the weak battery is located
This will make a car with a weak battery as a conductor when the jump-start is done. You can connect cables to a clean, paint or oxidation-free frame, chassis, or other component.
Step 6. Start the car engine whose battery has been charged
When starting the engine, the charging system will start charging the weak battery via the jumper cable.
Step 7. Allow at least five minutes to pass after starting the engine of a car whose battery has been charged
This will allow the weak battery to charge on its own, although it will take longer to fully charge.
Step 8. Try starting a car engine that has a weak battery
If the jumper cable and the battery that is being charged have enough power, the car engine should be able to start easily and start.
If the engine of a car with a weak battery fails to start, allow another five minutes to pass to charge the weak battery
Step 9. Disconnect and remove the jumper wires from each car after the engine starts in the reverse order compared to when connecting them
This will prevent sparks or explosions from forming.
First, disconnect the ground wire, then the wire connected to the negative terminal of the battery, then the wire connected to the positive terminal of the car battery that jumps (which provokes a weak battery), and finally, the wire that connects to the positive terminal of the previous car battery. weak
Step 10. Leave the car that previously had a weak battery running for at least five more minutes
This will allow the car's alternator to recharge the battery.
Step 11. Drive a jump-started car for at least 20 minutes or leave it running for the same amount of time
In some cases, your battery will be fully charged within this time; however, you may need to buy a new battery for your car if the battery is not charged enough to crank the car.
Tips
- Auto parts stores can quickly test the battery to determine if it is no longer serviceable.
- Pay attention to the temperature of the vehicle when it is turned on for a long time, because some cars can become too hot inside when left running for a long time at rest.
- The larger cable size of the jumper cables allows for a faster charging rate.
- Check the electrolyte level of the weak battery to make sure each cell is properly filled.
- Some Ford cars are notorious for having power surges due to jump-starts. To avoid the electrical problems this results in, make sure your car heater is running with the fan turned on all the way up and turning on the dew blocker. If there is a surge, the fuse to the fan will blow, and the heater/fan running will absorb the excess current to avoid electrical damage.
Warning
- Never allow positive and negative jumper wires to touch or connect with each other when connected to the battery; especially when you're dealing with it. If you let the wires touch, they may melt, damage the battery, or even cause a fire.
- Charging the battery may produce an explosive gas, hydrogen.
- If your car has a manual transmission, use the clutch carefully.
