If you’ve ever jumped in your car to realise the battery is flat, you know it’ll need a jump start. To do this, you’ll need a pair of jump leads, but it’s important that they’re used correctly, otherwise they can cause damage to your car and yourself.
Here’s a safe step-by-step guide from the AA on how to use jump leads on a car correctly.
How to use jump leads: safety tips
Make sure you always check the following before jump starting your car:
-
Check that your car battery isn’t damaged or leaking, if it is, seek help from a professional.
-
Never use jump leads that are damaged.
-
If the jump leads get hot, stop using them immediately.
-
Make sure no metal (such as jewellery, rings, watch straps, necklaces or hand tools) touch the battery, as these could create a spark and cause it to explode.
-
That there are no naked flames anywhere near the battery, including cigarettes.
How to use jump leads: what you’ll need
-
A pair of jump leads.
-
A vehicle with a fully-charged battery (you should avoid using a hybrid or electric car as this could end up damaging your vehicle).
How to use jump leads: a step-by-step guide
1. First, line up the fully charged car alongside your flat car
You want it so both cars are within easy reach of one another, but not actually touching. Make sure the handbrakes are on and the ignitions are off.
2. Connect the red jump lead
Get your red jump lead and connect it to the working battery’s positive (+) terminal to the flat battery’s positive (+) terminal.
3. Connect the black jump lead
Get your black jump lead and connect it to the negative (-) terminal on the working battery. Then, attach the other end to the earthing point (this is unpainted metal on the engine block or chassis) well away from the fuel system and battery.
4. Start the car with the working battery
Once the jump leads have been attached, keep both cars off for three minutes before starting the working car’s engine. Let this run for 1 minute.
5. Start the car with the flat battery
Turn on the engine in your car.
6. Let both cars run
Leave both of the cars running for around 10 minutes.
7. Turn off both cars and disconnect the leads
Turn off both of the car’s engines and disconnect the leads in the opposite order to how they were connected (disconnect the black lead from your car first, finishing with the red lead from the other car).
8. Start your car
Pop the keys into your car’s ignition and your car should start up! If it doesn’t, this might mean there is a more serious issue in need of professional help.
How to use jump leads video
If you’re still a little unsure on how to use jump leads on a car correctly, then give this video from Halfords a watch.
Popular articles to read next
6 of the best car vacuum cleaners for a spotless ride every time
Everything you need to know about switching to an electric car