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cable on battery to jump start car

When Jumpstarting The Car Doesn’t Work

When it comes to electrical issues on a vehicle, most, we’ve found, are related to a dead, or dying battery.  In most cases a jump can get you on your way to replace the battery with a newer version.

However, if you are still not able to start your car even if you’ve done the process of jump-starting it, it can feel confusing and hopeless. This is just to prove that jump-starting the car isn’t always the answer to a car that fails to start. Before we get into the details as to why your car still won’t work after jump-starting it, let us first get to know how jump-starting works.

How Does Jump Start Work?

The process of jump-starting a vehicle is done in cars that have a battery that has been discharged. A car that doesn’t start can be remedied by charging the battery through the jump start procedure.

Cars that won’t start may be due to an old battery that can no longer hold the charge. In this case, the battery needs to be replaced. It is also possible that the battery has been drained because you forgot to turn off the headlamps and they’ve been on for hours.

Jump starting in both scenarios can be done. If your battery is old, the car can still work and start after the jump start procedure. When it does, you have to bring it to the nearest battery dealer to get a replacement battery. For those with drained car batteries, a jump start can be done and the battery will recharge itself as the car runs. In this case, you won’t need to replace the battery.

In order to perform the jumpstart procedure, you need reliable and high-quality jumper cables plus a source of the charge which can be jumpstart equipment or another vehicle. The procedure is easy but is also risky. You can get electrocuted if you are not careful in doing the procedure. You can even damage the vehicles if you don’t connect the cables properly. This is a good reason to leave jump-starting a car in the hands of professionals who offer roadside assistance.

Why Won’t Jump Start Work

Now that we know how a jumpstart works, we can now take a deeper look at the reasons why the jump start won’t work on your car. The first reason could be dirty battery terminals. Sometimes, the battery terminals could be rusty or full of deposits that prevent it from taking the charge. Using mild sandpaper to clean it can be done and the jump start is repeated.

Another reason why the jump start doesn’t work is because of the cables. Check to see if the clips are connected to the cables. Also, check if the cables are connected correctly then jump start again.

It is also possible that jump starting procedure isn’t advisable for your car. Before you attempt to jump start the car, you must first make sure that the process is suitable for your vehicle. Some manufacturers advise against it, which may be the reason why it doesn’t work on your vehicle.

Lastly, it is also possible that the drained battery isn’t the only problem that your car has. The problem can also involve other parts of the car’s electrical system like the alternator.


Need a professional vehicle jump-start service in Minneapolis or St Paul?  Give Timber Towing And Recovery a call 24/7…

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