Questions About How To Jump Start A Car Battery

George asks…

Is there any other way to charge a car battery besides Jump Start?

Actually, I drive a 1997 VW GTi VR6. Sometimes, I have to go to other countries for a few months and my car battery runs out every time. I cannot get my car to start. Is there any way that I can deal with this situation all by myself? Buying a battery chargers? What kind? How many voltage? Thanks!

admin answers:

You have several options here. One is to disconnect one of the battery cables, (accessories like clock, security alarm, and other stuff can run battery down when car not it use!) A battery with a good charge can probably survive for 3 months and still start the car (most of the time).

There is a "jumpstart" pack, - that can be caried to car and will boost the battery enough to start the car. It has a charger that plugs into regular "house outlet" and then unplugs so that you can carry it around. The unit is about as big as an "old time" kids lunch pail (maybe just a little larger). This is a great thing to have while traveling, as you can just put it in your trunk, and if you (or anybody else) forgets to turn off your lights, - you just get the pack out and hook it up and you are on your way!! This will run you around $40-50, - depending on how big and what brand it is! Sears, Wal-Mart, and auto supply stores have them.

Now if the car is staying at home, you can buy a "trickle charger" and hook it up to battery and forget it, it puts out a very low current output, - which keeps your, battery "topped up" all the time, when you get back, just remove the charger and go on your way! This will run you in the range of $8.50 -$15.

Since your car has a 12 volt syatem, - naturally the voltage will be 12!

Now there is a third alternative, and that is a "solar charger" you can plug it in to the cigarettte lighter, and put it on the dash. They work pretty well (most of the time), - and they essentially will do the same thing as the trickle charger. They are pretty well available where car accessories are sold. And they run from about $20-up, - here again it depends on where and how you buy them. You probably only need one capable of putting out 1 amp under full sun,light. Obviously this isn't going to work in a parking garage or shaded ares! Note don't put it on outside of car,-(or it will be gone when you get back!)


There is one more thing to keep in mind, and that is if you have a computerized theft prevention system, - you want to know the "combination code" that re-arms your car so that you can drive it away! Otherwise it may think you are trying to "steal your car" and "lock everything down"! If your battery has been really (100%) dead before, you will already know this! Since you would have had to get it re-programmed before you cold drive it!!

John asks…

How do you use jumper cables to jump start a car battery?

admin answers:

Lemans81 nailed it but I'd like to add.... Make sure you tune off all accessories in both cars and make sure the cars aren't touching.

Betty asks…

how to use a battery jump starter,to start my car?

my car battery is a bit down.i`ve lost the jump starter manual .

admin answers:

Even without a manual you can jump start a car, just connect the posivite pole with the positive pole of the other battery and same with the negative pole.

Mary asks…

How to jump start a car when a car battery is weak?

Am not able to start the car as I did not use the car for 5 days. My son's car is next to mine. How do I connect the jump start cables to the batteries of both cars to form a circuit?

admin answers:

Typical Yahoo! Idiotic responses to a simple question. This person simply asked how to jump-start a car with a weak battery. You all are trying to kill him. First make sure the good car is shut off. Also, and this one is extremely important, make sure that if it has caps, the dead battery has enough water in it. Water must completely cover the lead plates in the battery or it may explode when you try to start the car. Open the hoods of both cars, Connect the red clamps to the positive battery terminals of both cars, which are marked with a +. Don't guess at this, look at the batteries. Make sure you get this part right or you can cause a lot of damage to yourself and the cars. Then connect the black clamps to bare (unpainted) metal parts under the hood of both cars away from the batteries. Brackets or bolts work well. NOT the battery terminals. Batteries create explosive gas when they are charging, and a spark can set off an explosion. Make sure the cables are clear of the fan and belts. Get everyone away from under the hoods of both cars. Batteries explode, and you do not want them near you when they do. Start the good car, let it run for a few minutes to charge the dead battery, then try to start the dead car. As soon as it starts, remove the cables from the weak car, then from the good car. Do not under any circumstances let the clamps touch each other or any part of the car. Do not attach battery cables to cars that are running. There are too many things under the hood that can hurt you if you get caught in them.

Ken asks…

jump start a 6v classic car battery from a 12v?

I have a '53 Buick on 6v battery that is weak, I need to jump start it from one of my newer vehicles (12v). How do I do this and how can I do this without damaging anything? Thanks in advance.

admin answers:

That's a no no! Buy a charger or a new battery

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