Asked by: Petre Dudnik
automotive road side assistance

Why would a car not start with jumper cables?

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Inexpensive jumper cables that are not thick enough to carry sufficient current won't perform to the level you expect, and your car won't start after a jump. Cables that are too long have more internal resistance, and they may not transfer enough of the donor battery's power to your car.


Moreover, what happens if you jump a car that's not dead?

But if the “deadcar cranks vigorously and just doesn't start, the problem is probably something other than the battery, and jump-starting will not help. In fact, the more charge remains in the discharged battery, the quicker the jump-starting process will be.

Furthermore, can you jump start a completely dead car battery? If you're stuck with a dead battery, you can start the car by using jumper cables to connect the bad battery to a fully charged one, whether or not it's fitted to another vehicle. Here's a guide on how to jump start a car, assuming that the charged battery is fitted to another vehicle.

Furthermore, can you jump a car that is completely dead?

Yes you can bring most even really dead batteries back to life with a jump from a running car. However note that most cheap battery jumper cables don't carry enough current to make this happen very quickly.

Why don't you connect the negative when jumping a car?

Caution: Don't attach the negative cable to the negative terminal of the weak battery when jumping a car battery! This common mistake could ignite hydrogen gas directly over the battery. Battery explosions can cause serious injury. Finally, remove the positive cable from the car with the weak battery.

Related Question Answers

Aza Cidre

Professional

What should you not do when jumping a car?

8 Things You Should Never Ever Do When You Jump Start Your Car
  1. Don't smoke.
  2. Not wearing gloves and eye protection.
  3. Not reading the owner's manual.
  4. Don't jump start the car if the battery is cracked or leaking.
  5. Not putting the car in Park.
  6. Don't let the cables dangle from the car.
  7. Don't use poor and low quality cables.
  8. Lastly, if you're not sure what you're doing - call a professional!

Zinayida Borbor

Professional

What happens when jump start doesn't work?

If jump starting gets your engine started and running, but the car will not start again once you turn it off, the battery is probably the problem. In this case, the alternator is doing its job of keeping the battery going once it has been jumped, but the battery can't hold a charge when the alternator is shut off.

Jenelle Cacho

Explainer

Does revving engine help jump start?

Is revving the engine a good idea during a jump-start? RAY: So by revving your engine up to 2,000 rpm or 2,500 rpm and holding it there while the other car tries to start, you're increasing the output of your alternator and giving your battery a little bit of extra power, which it can donate to the other car.

Gaofeng Derman

Explainer

Can a completely drained car battery be recharged?

A car battery is considered discharged when the voltage drops below 12 volts. While your vehicle's alternator can keep a healthy battery charged, it was never designed to completely recharge a dead car battery. Most of the time, you don't even have to remove the battery from your vehicle.

Allah Avis

Explainer

Does a car battery recharge itself?

A car battery cannot recharge itself. It needs a power source like the vehicle alternator or an external charger to provide capacity to reverse the discharge process. If your alternator is functioning normally, then jump start the vehicle and leave the engine on or drive it for an hour.

Galin Bekhoev

Pundit

Ilduara Fiel

Pundit

What do you do if your car is completely dead?

The most common way to deal with a dead battery is by jump-starting it. All you need to jump-start a car is a set of jumper cables and another car (a good Samaritan) with a functional battery. Keep in mind that you should never try to jump-start a car if its battery is cracked and is visibly leaking acid.

Justiniano Manzo

Pundit

Does revving engine charge battery faster?

The battery will charge faster if you rev the engine faster. Why? Because the faster the crankshaft turns, the faster it turns the belt that runs the alternator. And the faster the alternator turns, the more electricity it produces to run all the electrical stuff in the car — and recharge the battery.

Yashira Conrath

Pundit

What does it mean when you turn your key and nothing happens?

If nothing happens when you turn the ignition key to the "Start" position, it means that the starter motor doesn't turn over the engine. Most commonly this could be caused by a dead battery; here is How to check the battery. The starter solenoid control wire could have a bad connection.

Serhiy Murtazaliev

Pundit

What does it mean when your car is completely dead?

If your vehicle won't start, it's usually because of a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator, or due to an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if you're dealing with a battery or an alternator problem.

Simo Paisan

Teacher

Can you leave jumper cables on too long?

If you are talking about leaving a flat battery connected to a good battery for longish periods, the answer is "it depends". If the engine is running in the vehicle with the good battery, the bad battery will get a charge from that connection, probably not enough to fully charge it, but at least a useful charge.

Ferruccio Tiegel

Teacher

How long can car battery sit before it dies?

Take a look at what the safe sitting time for a vehicle is. BMW says Four weeks is the max for storage without removing the battery or putting it on some form of life support or a battery tender. The battery, if removed is good for about six weeks to 6 months.

Gissela Castañar

Teacher

Can a car battery just die?

Your car battery is perhaps the most essential part of your vehicle. Once the battery is 'flat' or 'has died', the vehicle will no longer function. A working battery recharges itself as you drive, however, if your battery is faulty it will not be able to retain its charge and it will, in effect, die on you again.

Veredas Guitard

Teacher

Caritat Shirnin

Reviewer

How long does it take to charge a car battery with jumper cables?

Upon starting the engine, its charging system will begin to charge the dead car battery through the jumper cables. Allow at least five minutes to pass after starting the engine of the car with the charged battery.

Haroon Bartsch

Reviewer

How long does it take for an alternator to charge a dead battery?

Your car battery is charged by your alternator. Often, when a battery fails, it's due to a fault with the alternator. Generally, if you can keep your engine RPM up, your alternator will charge your battery at a faster rate. If you are driving on a motorway, you should be able to charge your car battery in 30 minutes.