Often, however, a discharged battery can be put back into operation using a jump start – you just have to know how. It is therefore helpful for both the breakdown assistant and the driver of the broken down vehicle to know what to do in the event of an accident.

According to breakdown statistics, most of the vehicle breakdowns are caused by poorly maintained car batteries. If the capacity of the battery falls below a critical level, it can no longer supply the electrical components of the car with sufficient electricity. Most of the energy is required for the starting process. Bridging using jump leads often remains the last solution.
An empty car battery is the number one cause of breakdowns in winter. With a jump start cable it is still possible to start the car in most cases – provided that there is a helper who is ready to give jump start with his car. What to look out for when bridging, in what order the jump leads are laid out and what mistakes should be avoided.

The good news for all concerned: to bridge a car that has been left with a discharged battery, all you need is a jump starter cable and a helper vehicle with an intact battery. Important: The diameter of the cable should be at least 16 mm. For cars with a large displacement, a jump lead with a cross section of 25 mm is recommended.

The vehicle affected by the breakdown must be supplied with a battery of the same voltage. The voltage of most vehicles is usually 12 volts, only a few classic cars are operated with an on-board voltage of 6 volts. In any case, please note the information in the logbook of both vehicles. The jump leads must be connected in the correct order; otherwise the batteries can be damaged.

The Right Jump Starter Cable is Important
If the bridging does not work, it can also be due to the equipment, because in addition to the correct procedure, suitable cables are also important for starting assistance. A cable cross-section that is too small can put a spanner in the works. To be on the safe side, the cross-section should have a diameter of at least 16 mm². For cars with a larger displacement (over 2.5 liters), the diameter should even be 25 mm². A charging cable that is too weak can also be a reason why the bridging does not work.

Preparation for Jump Start
Both vehicles must be parked and secured on level ground. The helper and breakdown vehicle must not touch each other; otherwise there is a risk of a short circuit. In many new vehicles, the battery is no longer in the engine compartment, but mostly positive and negative poles can still be located quickly. If necessary, a look at the operating instructions will help. The engine must be switched off in vehicles.

Many modern vehicles, where the battery is not under the hood, have “Jumpstart” connections in the engine compartment, which must be used – the jump leads must not be connected directly to the battery. The red cable is always attached to the positive pole and the black cable is clamped accordingly to the negative pole. The other end of the black cable should under no circumstances be connected to the negative pole.

A stable, unpainted metal part in the engine compartment is suitable for this, for example the engine block of the vehicle. Fastening directly to the negative pole of the broken down vehicle is not recommended as this can cause sparks and damage the battery. Very old lead-acid batteries could even leak battery acid, which could endanger people around.

• Drive the vehicle that is to donate electricity close to the breakdown vehicle so that the distance between the two car batteries is as short as possible. The cars must not touch each other (risk of short circuit!).
• First switch off the engine and ignition of the donor vehicle, even when the car is empty, leave the ignition switched off. Take out gear on both vehicles and apply handbrake. When using a car with an empty battery, switch off all power consumers (ventilation, lights, etc.).

A battery check in the course of the regular inspection is useful. In this way, poor performance and damage can be identified at an early stage. The reliability and service life of the battery can be increased by regularly charging the battery in winter with a charger. A deep discharge is to be avoided, such as moisture and dirt that can cause leakage, which may lead to a gradual discharge of the battery.

By the Way
A specialist workshop should be consulted after each deep discharge in order to find out the cause of the failure. If the battery is old enough, the jump start will only help for a short time and the problem may occur again the next time you try to start. If many electrical consumers were the reason for the discharge of a battery, which is in principle okay, a visit to the workshop or jump start service provider like us/Lone Star Towing & Recovery LLC is also worthwhile, since the loss of performance due to the loss of active mass persists.

Lone Star Towing & Recovery LLC has a team of highly experts who can assist you with the 100% quality service with faster delivery. Contact Lone Star Towing & Recovery LLC for instant support. We are ready to help you in any emergency cases with 24/7 hours availability.