If necessary, the engine can be started by connecting it to the battery of another vehicle.
If the engine fails to start because of a discharged battery, the battery can be connected to the battery of another vehicle to start the engine. Suitable jump leads are required.
Both batteries must be rated at 12 Volts. The capacity (Ah) of the booster battery should not be significantly lower than that of the discharged battery.
Jump leads
The jump leads must be heavy enough to carry the starter current. Refer to the details given by the manufacturer.
Only use jump leads with insulated battery clamps.
Positive cable – usually red.
Negative cable – usually black.
- When it is discharged the battery can freeze at temperatures around 0°C. Never try to jump-start a car if the battery has frozen - risk of explosion and acid burns. A battery must be replaced once it has frozen.
- The engine compartment is a dangerous area and working here can lead to serious injuries. Before carrying out any work in the engine compartment please read and observe the warnings ►Link.
- Incorrect handling of the jump leads may result in the battery exploding (risk of serious injury). Please observe the following rules to minimise the risk of injury:
- The non-insulated parts of the battery clamps must not be allowed to touch. The jump lead attached to the positive jump-start terminal must not touch metal parts of the vehicle: this can cause short circuiting.
- Position the jump leads in such a way that they cannot come into contact with any moving parts in the engine compartment.
- Do not lean over the batteries - risk of acid burns!
- The screw plugs on the battery cells must be screwed in firmly.
- Keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes away from batteries: the gases given off can cause an explosion.
- Do not attach the negative cable to parts of the fuel system or to the brake pipes.
- The vehicles must not touch each other, otherwise electricity could flow as soon as the positive terminals are connected and the boosting battery could be discharged.
- If the jump leads are not connected correctly this can result in serious damage to the electrical system of the vehicle.
- The discharged battery must be properly connected to the vehicle's electrical system.
- Please note that the method described below for connecting the leads is intended for jump-starting your vehicle. If jump-starting another vehicle, you should not connect the negative lead (–) to the negative terminal of the discharged battery, but directly to the engine block or a solid metal part bolted to the engine block. If the battery of the other vehicle does not have a gas vent, there is a risk that a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gas can accumulate and cause an explosion.
Note
Switch off the car telephone if necessary. Details will be given in the manufacturer's instructions for the car telephone.