The unexpected discharge of your car battery is a problem that can be particularly annoying, especially when it happens when you need to move, for example, to an appointment. In this situation, as every minute is precious and the delay can have negative consequences on your schedule, it is essential to effectively address this situation. That's why we present you with a detailed and effective procedure that will help you restore your car to operation, using car jump starter cables.

Useful tips:

• Do not connect a car with different voltage to another car using cables, for example, a car with a 12V battery cannot be connected to a car with a 24V battery.
• Do not connect cables to cars with different gasoline and diesel engines. The different cold cranking amperes (CCA) they have will cause damage to the electrical circuit of the cars.

Step 1

Move the car that will supply you with power either with its front facing the vehicle with the discharged battery or move it to the side so that one front wheel is opposite the other. Make sure they have a distance between them of about 40 to 50 centimeters, so that the power cables can easily reach the battery terminals.

#Tipsbyskroutzteam: Be careful when parking the cars so that they do not touch each other under any circumstances.

Step 2

If you have a car with an automatic transmission, select the "Park" gear. Otherwise, if you have a car with a manual transmission, select neutral.

#Tipsbyskroutzteam: Before starting the following process, make sure you have turned off the engine of the car that will provide power, and ensure that you have pulled the handbrake on both vehicles.

Step 3

Another important step is to remove the keys from the ignition of both cars and to have opened the door of the car with the discharged battery.

Attention: The above step is necessary for cars equipped with an immobilizer, as in cases where the car is powered, there is a possibility that the car doors will automatically lock.

Step 4 

Open the hood of both cars and locate the battery. In many cars, the position of the battery may differ, i.e., the battery may be located either on the right or left side. Additionally, in newer generation cars, the batteries are covered with plastic caps and may not be very visible. They usually have a sticker or embossed logo of the battery on the top.

#Tipsbyskroutzteam: If you cannot find the exact location of the battery, you can refer to the car's owner's manual.

Step 5

Find the terminals at the top of the battery, which are characterized by the red color (positive), usually labeled with "POS" (Positive) or the symbol "+". Then, locate the terminal with the black color (negative), labeled with "NEG" (Negative) or the symbol "-". If necessary, clean any salts or foreign objects on the terminals using a wire brush or sandpaper.

#Tipsbyskroutzteam: When connecting jumper cables to the car battery terminals, be extremely careful NOT to mix up the terminals. Otherwise, you may blow the car's fuses, cause a short circuit, etc.

Step 6 

Take the jumper cables in your hands, which consist of 2 cables in red and black colors. Then connect them in the following order:

Place the red clip (crocodile) on the positive pole (+) of the empty battery, while on the other side of the red cable place it on the positive pole (+) of the battery that will supply you with power.

Then place the black clip (crocodile) on the negative pole (-) of the car battery that will supply you with power, while on the other side of the black cable place it on a metallic point of the car with the discharged battery, which is not painted, such as a screw or bolt in the engine.

Attention: Make sure that the jumper cables do not touch moving parts of the engine, such as belts and fans.

Step 7

Place the engine of the car that will provide power in front and leave it running for 15 to 20 minutes, then turn it off. Then try to start the car engine with the discharged battery. If it starts, do not turn off the engine and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes to charge the battery a little.

If the car does not start, then repeat the above process from the beginning.

Caution: While the car engine that provides power is running, DO NOT turn the car's ignition with the empty battery, as it may cause damage to the dynamo.

Step 8

If you managed to start the car with the discharged battery, you will need to disconnect the cables in the opposite order that you connected them, that is:

• First, disconnect the black (negative) cable, which is connected to the unpainted metal part of the car.
• Then, disconnect the other end of the black cable from the negative pole of the car that provides power.
• Next, disconnect the red cable from the positive pole (+) of the car that provides power.
• And finally, disconnect the positive pole from the empty battery.

#Tipsbyskroutzteam: If after several attempts your car still doesn't start, you may need to consult a specialist, as your battery may need to be charged in a special machine or replaced. Also, besides the above, there is a high possibility that your car may have a different problem, such as a fault in your starter, your ignition switch, or some fuses may have blown.

If you still have questions about how to jump-start your car, then the following video will help you understand the steps we mentioned even better. Finally, if you're the type who wants something faster and more immediate, we have a solution for that too! You can take a look at the battery starters, where with their easy and quick use you can jump-start your car or even your motorcycle.