An important skill every driver should know is how to jump-start a car. As your MINI dealer, we’d like to tell you the easy steps to perform this operation. You will need a set of jumper cables, and we advise you to keep cables in your car. When you choose a set of cables, check to ensure that they can transmit sufficient power.
Advice From Your MINI Dealer: 5 Easy Steps To Jump-Start a Car
Park Facing the Other Car
It’s always advisable to park as close to the other car as possible, preferably with your hoods facing each other. Once you’ve parked, turn off the engines and open both hoods.
Depending on the position of the car and the road situation, you may have to park behind it. We advise purchasing a long set of jumper cables so you’re prepared for any emergency. If you’re behind the other car, long cables will stretch over the car. It’s not an ideal situation, but there might not be a choice.
Connect the Red Cables
The red cables are positive. Connect the first red cable to the positive battery terminal in the dead car and ensure it’s securely connected. Once this is done, connect the second red cable to the positive terminal on your battery. Some car batteries have plastic covers you must remove to access the terminals. In all batteries, the positive and negative terminals are marked.
Connect the Black Cables
The black cables are negative. Connect the first black cable to the negative terminal on your battery. As a final step, connect the second black cable to any unpainted bolt on the inside frame of the other car’s engine. You mustn’t connect the black cable to the negative terminal on the dead car’s battery. This could damage your battery or even start a fire.
Check All Connections
Ensure that all the cables are securely connected. If there’s a loose connection, recharging will fail.
Start Your Engine
Start your engine and allow it to idle for several minutes. Electricity will flow through the cables from your battery to the dead car’s battery and provide it with power. After a few minutes, try and start the other car. If its engine starts, carefully remove the battery cables. If the dead car doesn’t start, repeat the process for another fifteen minutes and try and start the car again.
Now you know how to start a dead battery. To ensure your MINI’s battery is in good condition, visit us for a battery test today at Tom Bush MINI.
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