Bring life back.

Some drivers will encounter a flat car battery at some point during their journeys. If your car won’t start but your lights and electrical systems appear to be running, then a jump start may be what you need.

Knowing how to jump start the car properly is a great way to manage this inconvenience if you can’t get hold of a mechanic immediately. If there are instructions in your vehicle manual, follow those first and foremost. Otherwise, here is what you can do if your car battery has died.

What you will need to jump start a car

Jumper cables – Have jumper cables ready. If you don’t have a set in your boot, borrow one from other nearby drivers.

Another (non-electric) vehicle – Approach another driver with a car with a fully-charged battery for help to jump start your car. Avoid using electric vehicles in case they damage your car.

A few DON’TS before you start…

• Never jump start a leaking or damaged car battery.
• Do not let metal objects, such as rings or necklaces, touch the car batteries as these could cause a spark.
• Ensure there is no smoke or naked flames near the batteries.

Step 1: Find batteries and terminals

Locate the batteries and their terminals in both cars. Check the vehicle manuals if necessary. Move the assisting vehicle close enough to your car so that the jumper cables can easily reach battery to battery. Switch off both engines.

Step 2: Connect positive cables to positive terminals

Each car battery has two metal terminals. One is marked positive (+), and the other negative (-). The jumper cable set will also have a positive (+) cable in red, and a negative (-) cable in black.

Fasten one of the metal clamps of the red jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery (your car).

Connect the other red cable clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the assisting vehicle. Make sure both metal clamps are in contact with the terminals.

Beware: DO NOT connect the red cable to the negative battery terminal.

Step 3: Connect black cable to assisting vehicle 

Clamp one end of the black jumper cable to the negative (-) battery terminal of the assisting vehicle.

Beware: Never attach the negative cable to the negative battery terminal of your stalled car!

Step 4: Connect black cable to metal ground

Attach the other negative clamp of the black cable to an earthing point – i.e. an exposed unpainted metal surface of your car.

Beware: Always ensure that this metal surface is AWAY from the battery and the carburettor or fuel-injection system.

Step 5: Restart engines

Start the assisting vehicle’s engine. Wait for about 5 minutes, then try to start your own car.

• If your car starts … let it run for at least 15 seconds to make sure it doesn’t stall again.
• If your car still cannot start … check that the jumper cables are properly connected, have the assisting vehicle run for another 5 minutes, and try to restart your car once more. If it still fails to start, then your battery could be truly dead and you need to have it replaced.

Step 6: Remove cable clamps

Switch off both car engines, and carefully disconnect the metal clamps of the cables in the reverse order of how they were connected:

• Detach the black negative clamp from the earthing ground of your car.
• Remove the black negative clamp from the assisting vehicle.
• Disconnect the red positive clamp from the assisting vehicle.
• Remove the red positive clamp from your car.

Beware: Do not detach the jumper cables while the engines are running. This can seriously damage the cars’ electronics. Also make sure the clamps of the jumper cables do not contact one another or either vehicle as you are removing them.

Step 7: Restart your engine

• Restart your engine and keep it running for about 30 minutes to fully charge your jump-started battery.

Step 8: Have your battery tested or replaced

• Visit your service centre to have your car battery tested or replaced.

When should you replace your car battery?

Car batteries can last from five to seven years depending on the vehicle make and model, the weather, drive habits and vehicle care. Most Singapore drivers tend to replace their car battery every three years. But if at any time you find it hard to start your car, have it tested at your service centre immediately.

If you need to have your car battery tested or replaced, visit us at Quick Lane Singapore to avoid the stressful scenario of a stalled car.

Main photo: Unsplash