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How to Jumpstart a Dead Car Battery

Whether you’re just trying to get from point A to point B, heading on a leisurely cruise or out for an adventure in your Land Rover Defender, having the battery run out on you isn’t pleasant. Maybe you stopped for a while to explore and forgot to turn off the radio, or perhaps you left the lights on overnight.

Now, the starter motor is acting lazy and won’t turn the crank fast enough to get the engine started. Calling for a tow truck may not be the best course of action, especially if you are exploring around the islands, and pushing the car to a service shop? Surely there are better options.

And fortunately, there are—as long as there is another running car around or you’re able to get a good Samaritan to lend a hand and two cables. Jumpstarting a car is a temporary fix, but it will at least get your car running again, and fortunately the process is simple.

First of all, you’ll need a set of electric cables that will connect the dead battery to a working one from another vehicle. Once you have these vital pieces of equipment, you’re ready to start. Here’s how to jumpstart your car battery:

Keep Your Vehicle Safe With A TC Defenders Inspection
Keep Your Vehicle Safe With A TC Defenders Inspection
  • Park the vehicles close to each other, bumper to bumper. Make sure that they do not touch each other. 
  • Pop both hoods and locate the batteries for each vehicle. On most Land Rover Defender models, the battery is situated in the lower right or lower left side of the engine bay, near the big bulky air filter box. Positioning is similar for other vehicles as well, so you can use this guide to jumpstart most combustion vehicles.
  • Now, the cables. Jumper cable packs usually contain a red and a black cable. These need to be connected to cars’ battery terminals. 
  • Look near the battery terminals of your vehicle and check for the “+” sign. That is where you will attach the red cable clamp. Attach the other end of the cable to the other vehicle’s “+” battery terminal.
  • Important note: Be very careful not to connect the a “+” terminal to a “-“ terminal, as there is a good chance you will fry some fuses and end up with two unusable vehicles. 
  • Look for the “-“ battery terminal on your vehicle, connect the clamp of the black cable and then attach the other cable end to the “-“ terminal of the other vehicle. 
  • Can’t find the terminals of your car’s battery? Some Land Rover Defender models will come with plastic covers for the terminals, which can be easily popped up to expose the terminals. It can be the same for other vehicles, so make sure to inspect the battery carefully before jumpstarting your car.
  • Once the cable clamps are attached to the correct poles, it’s time to jumpstart your dead car’s engine. To do so, first turn on the vehicle with a working battery. Next, start your car. It may take one or two attempts to get it running, especially if the battery has been drained heavily. 
  • When your car has started, disconnect the cables in the reverse order of attaching them. Make sure not to leave the cable clamps resting on the metal parts of either of the vehicles while you are disconnecting the remaining ones. 
  • Leave your car running for a few minutes to allow the alternator to charge the battery up and then feel free to continue on your adventure.

That’s it—you’re all set and ready to hit the road again!

Having other issues with your Land Rover Defender? Get in touch

Get in Touch!

Whether you’re dealing with a fault battery or having other issues with your Land Rover Defender, we can help you get to the bottom of your problem and get your vehicle back into tip-top shape. We’re the only auto repair and maintenance company in the Turks and Caicos specialising in Land Rover Defenders and guarantee service that’s knowledgeable and efficient. Get in touch with us by calling 1-649-941-3508 or email us at info@tcdefenders.com.

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