A lot of drivers have had the experience, at some point in their lives, of trying to start their car and, unfortunately, could not perform the action successfullydue to a problem with the battery, the alternator that charges it, the starter or the ignition switch, among others. In the case of the first, users choose to resort to an element which, in the vast majority of cases, generally works and very well: the clamps, an object which is responsible for connecting one car battery to another when it is completely discharged. It’s a very simple tip to use and this could make us get the “chestnuts out of the fire” on more than one occasion.
Step by step to start the car with pliers
- Position cars correctly: You must place the two cars close to each other, but without touching each other. Vehicles should be close enough for jumper cables to pass from one to the other. They must be turned off at all times during this first step.
- Prepare the starter clamps: First of all, you will need to make sure that the jumper cables are in good shape and condition. On the other hand, it is important do not touch the clamps together when connecting them to the batteries, as this could cause a short circuit.
- Connect the positive red clamp to the discharged car: Take the red clip and connect it to the positive terminal of the discharged battery (+). If you cannot easily access the element, connect the clamp to the positive terminal of the motor.
- Connect the red positive clamp to the car with a charged battery: Next we will take the other red clamp and connect it to the positive battery terminal of the car that has the charged battery.
- Connect the black negative clamp: We take the black clamp (-) and connect it to the negative battery terminal of the car with the charged battery.
- Connect the negative black clamp to the discharged car– In this case, do not connect it directly to the negative terminal of the discharged battery. Instead, connect it to an unpainted metal part of the unloaded car’s chassis, such as a metal part of the engine. This is done to reduce the risk of sparks near the battery.
- Start the car with a charged battery: Start the car with the charged battery and let the engine run for a while, between 5 and 10 minutes. This will help partially charge it.
- Disconnect the clamps in reverse order, very important to do this step– Once the unloaded car is started, disconnect the clamps in the reverse order to that in which you connected them.
- Let the car drive for a while :pTo recharge the car battery a little more, let it run for about 15 to 30 minutes and, if possible, drive, as this will allow the alternator to recharge the battery more optimally and efficiently.
How long does it take to start a car?
The action of starting a car should not exceed more than 15 minutes in most cases. If the vehicle in question does not start after several attempts or after leaving it running for a few minutes, there may be a problem. additional problem with the battery or electrical systemand, in this case, it may be necessary to replace the battery or investigate other problems, in addition to traveling as quickly as possible to our nearest workshop. Likewise, if the car does not start after the aforementioned minutes, do not continue trying, as you may damage the battery or starting system.
What happens if I connect the clamps incorrectly?
If you connect the clamps and do it incorrectly, it could cause several serious problems, in addition to becoming very dangerous, both for the batteries and for the electrical systems of our “four-wheeled friend”.
- Short circuit or sparks: Sparks or a short circuit may occur. This is especially dangerous when connecting the negative cable, as poor contact can suddenly generate a large amount of power.
- Battery damage: You may permanently damage the battery, causing overheating or internal damage.
- Damage to the electrical system: Improper connection of the clamps can also damage delicate electrical components of vehicles, such as certain fuses, the alternator or the engine computer.
- Risk of fire or explosion: Hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable, may be released if the battery is severely discharged or old. These gases could in turn cause an explosion, which would represent a risk to your safety and that of people nearby.
- You may have some difficulty starting the car.
