How to Jumpstart Your Car: A Simple Guide for Kenyan Drivers

Have you ever left the house in a hurry, you’re running late for work, a date or that family gathering, you hop into your ride, turn the key, and… nothing? You try again and again before you realise that your car’s decided to take a nap at the worst possible time.

Well, before you call a mechanic and lose precious time (and money!), there’s a simple solution: jump-starting your car.

Jumpstarting basically involves borrowing some juice from another car’s healthy battery to get your engine going again. It’s like giving your car a little push to get it over the hump. 

Now, this might sound complicated, but relax! Jump-starting a car isn’t rocket science, but it can be a bit scary if you’ve never done it before. With a little know-how and some help from a friend (or a kind stranger!), you can get your car back up and running in no time.

Today, Peach Cars is here to show you how to jumpstart your car in a few simple steps, Kenyan style!

Before we begin, here’s what you’ll need:

1. A working car (the helper car)
2. Jump cables
3. Safety gloves (if you have them)

Next, safety first!

Safety is key whenever you’re dealing with car batteries. Here are a few quick things to remember:

• Turn Off the Cars: You will need the cars parked next to each other. So, make sure they are turned off and not touching each other.
• Neutral Ground: Put both cars in park (automatic) or neutral (manual) and engage the parking brake.
• Check for Leaks: Keep an eye out for any fluids leaking from the battery. If you see any leaks, don’t attempt to jumpstart – call a professional for help.

Now, Let’s Jumpstart Your Car

Follow the following steps one by one:

Step 1: Park the Cars Next to each Other

Park the working car close to your car, but not touching. The cars should be close enough for the jump cables to reach both batteries.

Step 2: Find the Batteries

Open the bonnets (hoods) of both cars. Look for the batteries. They’re usually big boxes with two metal parts on top. These metal parts are called terminals. One is marked with a plus (+) sign, and the other with a minus (-) sign.

Step 3: Connect the Red Cable

Take the red jump cable. Connect one end to the positive (+) terminal of your dead battery. Then, connect the other end to the positive (+) terminal of the working car’s battery.

Step 4: Connect the Black Cable

Now, take the black jump cable. Connect one end to the negative (-) terminal of the working car’s battery. For the other end, don’t connect it to your dead battery. 

Important! Don’t connect the black jump cable to the negative terminal (-) of your dead battery just yet.

Step 5: Grounding Time

Instead of connecting the black jump cable to the terminal, find a clean, unpainted metal part in your car’s engine area (the car with a dead battery) away from the battery itself. This could be a bolt or bracket. This is called a grounding point. 

Now, connect the black clamp from your remaining jumper cable to this grounding point.

Pro Tip: Once all the cables are securely clamped, do a quick double-check to make sure none are touching each other or any other metal parts in the engine bay. This can cause a short circuit, which is not good.

Step 6: Bring Your Car Back to Life

Start the engine of the helper car or have the owner power it on. Let it run for a few minutes. This sends power to your dead battery.

Step 7: Try to Start Your Car

After a few minutes, try to start your car. If it doesn’t start right away, wait a bit longer and try again. Sometimes it takes a few tries.

If everything is connected properly, your car should crank and hopefully roar back to life!

Step 8: Remove the Cables

Once your car starts, carefully remove the jump cables. Do this in the opposite order of how you connected them:

1. Remove the black cable from your car’s metal part
2. Remove the black cable from the working car’s battery
3. Remove the red cable from the working car’s battery
4. Remove the red cable from your car’s battery

Step 9: Keep Your Car Running

Let your car run for at least 15 minutes. This helps charge your battery. If possible, drive your car for a while to charge it even more.

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. A simple guide on how you can get back on the road quickly. Remember, if you’re not sure about anything, it’s always okay to ask for help. 

If your car still won’t start after a jumpstart, there might be a more serious issue with your battery or electrical system. Consult our mechanics for a quick solution and learn more about how our Peach Cars maintenance services can help you take care of your battery to avoid similar problems in the future. 

When to Consider a New Car

If you’re always having car troubles, it might be time to think about getting a new car. Newer cars often have better batteries and charging systems. They’re also more fuel-efficient and have cool new features. 

At Peach Cars, we have plenty of options you can choose from, and if you are not sure about whether it is time, read our article on how to Upgrade Your Car Fast & Easy in Kenya with Peach Cars. Similarly, if you decide it’s time to buy a new one, and you want to sell your used car, you can simply visit this page and begin the selling process in a fast, easy, and convenient way!

Better yet, give us a call at +254 709 726 900 for more information!