How To Boost a Car
How to Boost a Car
Car batteries as everything else, have a limited lifespan. Normally, is about 4 to 6 years. However, there are many factors (cold weather in Canada and Ontario for example) which can lead to battery premature failure and leave you stranded. In that case, battery will have to be replaced but for the moment you can boost your battery and start your car.
If your battery did not fail but was discharged accidentally (by forgetting your lights on, radio working for a long time, electronics plugged in while car was not running, etc) you likely do not need a new battery. Your battery is probably fine and just need to be charged again. You can check car battery condition yourself, is easy to do: How To Test Your Car Battery.
What is Boosting a Car
Car battery boost or jump starting, is starting a car with a flat battery by connecting it to another car using jump cables. Connection is done from donor car battery to recipient car battery. Jump cables transfer battery power from donor car battery to dead car battery to operate starter and start the engine.
Once engine is started, alternator will start charging dead battery and vehicle will run normally. However, jump staring is only a emergency measure and will not revive battery. Chances are when turn off engine your car will not start again on its own and will require jump starting again. Usually, when car batteries come to a point to require jump starting, battery is already dead and need replacement.
Jump starting its a free for all but it comes with risks to electronic modules in your car. Replace your battery, do not jump start your car repeatably. Jump stating can result in damage to electronic modules and its not uncommon to fry vehicle ECM when jump starting frequently.
Details on: Symptoms of Failing Car Battery.
Locate Battery in Your Car
Most car batteries are located on engine bay, under the hood. However, there are cars where batteries are located inside the trunk. In this case, manufacturers will provide (not always) jump start terminals on engine bay (image below, BMW). Battery posts on image below can be used to charge battery using a battery charger.
Positive or power terminal of car batteries usually have a red plastic cover. Battery polarity is imprinted on battery case, on each battery terminals post.
Assuming you have jump cables and a car to use for boost: position cars close to each other, batteries of both cars should be as close as possible. Turn off both cars, remove keys from ignition and open car hoods.
Step 1: Position Cars for Boosting
Open hood on both cars and locate batteries. Position both cars so batteries are as close a possible to each other. Cables usually are about 3 meters long ans will give you some space to position vehicles properly.
Make sure cars are jump cables are long enough to reach both batteries. If not, then move cars closer to each other or change position. Some car have batteries located on trunk and you will have to use battery jump start terminals on engine bay.
If your car doesn’t have battery terminals on engine bay, then you will have to connect jump cables directly to your battery in your trunk. Open trunk remove battery cover or floor cover and locate battery. Batteries on are located either under trunk floor or on side panel, usually with a removable battery cover.
Step 2: Connect cables to dead battery first
Before connecting jump cables: make sure the other two clamps on the other end of jump cables are not touching each other. Otherwise you will get fireworks.
1) Connect red colored clamp to positive terminal post on battery.
2) Connect black colored clamp on vehicle chassis.
Battery positive terminal has a red cap, if that is missing then check battery case to identify battery positive terminal. It is marked with (+) next battery terminal post. Same for negative/ground battery terminal.
Black/negative clamp should be connected to bare metal somewhere on engine bay (it needs to be grounded). Image below shows ground clamp connected on a strut mount bolt.
Clamps are colored, red for power and black for ground. Positive terminal of donor/boost car battery should be connected to positive terminal of boosted/dead car battery. Do Not interchange battery polarities, you will fry stuff.
Step 3: Connect cable clamps to donor car
Connect red clamp to battery power terminal (+) and black clamp to ground (-) terminal of battery. Start engine on donor car and leave it running.
Make sure jump cable clamps are tight on both vehicles before proceeding to start your car.
Step 4: Start Your Car
Now, you should have power in your car. Turn off all electrical accessories on your car before starting (blower fan, radio, etc). Try to start your car. If your car starts, remove cable connections from donor car first and then remove cables form your car.
Again, make sure cable clamps do not touch each other during removal. Press gas pedal and rev your car engine for a couple minutes at 2,000 rpm. This give alternator time to add some voltage on your battery.
Step 5: If your car does not start
1) If your car doesn’t start, check connections and leave jump cables connected for about 10 minutes with donor car running and try again. If it starts, remove cables from both cars, remove positive (power/red) terminals on both cars first. Jump cable clamps must not touch each other when you disconnect them. If your car still doesn’t start proceed to step below.
2) Battery to Battery Connection
Remove black ground clamp from car chassis (where you connected it earlier) and connect it directly to negative battery post. Connection will now be battery to battery. Jump cables should be connected from battery of donor car directly to battery of your car.
Leave it connected for 10 minutes with donor car running. Have someone rev engine to 2000-3000 rpm on donor car and try to start your car.
Boost a car using battery booster
There are two types of battery boosters which can boost a car. Lead acid and Lithium-ion. Lithium-ion battery boosters are smaller, more powerful and lighter. Lithium-ion boosters use same type of battery which powers smart phones. Lithium boosters are charged using same device and USB cable as smart phones.
Connect power red booster clamp to power(+) battery terminal and black negative (ground) on battery negative post (image below).
If Booster Doesn’t Turn On
Most battery booster are automatic. When you turn booster on, it will sense battery power and will automatically engage boost setting. However, automatic boosters need some battery power to engage.
This means your battery should not be completely dead with zero voltage. Automatic boosters will not engage if battery has zero voltage. You need to use bypass or manual booster setting when you have a completely dead battery.
Bypass setting is the red button on image below, though boosters are different and you should check booster manual or search online for operating instructions.
How To Boost a Car
Step 1: Connect booster clamps to battery (Red to Red, Black to Black). Make sure clamps are tight.
Step 2: Turn booster on. Check manual how to operate it.
Step 3: Leave booster connected for a couple of minutes. Turn off all electrical accessories on your car.
Step 4: Start your car.
Step 5: Rev your engine to 2,000rpm for a minute before driving. Alternator needs some time to charge battery.
Step 6: Turn off booster and remove booster clamps.
Do not drive your car right away after jump starting, leave it running for few minutes to warm up. Be aware, when you reach your destination and turn off your engine, its very likely your car will not start again. You will have to change your battery at your next stop (or boost it again).
(If you are also looking for a fast and easy solution to sell your car, more here on “How To Sell Your Car Fast In Ontario” )
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