How to Recharge a Flat Battery

If it's not already happened it's bound to happen sometime.  A flat battery is a pain in the neck. Actually, though it's the easiest thing to fix!  You just need some jump leads (an essential item to keep in the  boot  - especially if you own an old car) and a helpful car and driver next to you.

Step 1
Produce the set of jump leads (black and red thick wires with clips at each end).

Step 2
Find a helpful car driver.  You need to connect the jump leads from your car battery to a running car battery.

Step 3
Position the running car so its battery will reach your battery with the jump leads.

Step 4
 

With both cars off - open both bonnets, make sure cars are near enough for jump leads to attach between both batteries.

 

Important Note

If you have an engine management system in your car (i.e. a car younger than 1985ish) you must attach the black lead to the -(negative) terminal of the battery of the working car and attach the other end of the black lead to the flat battery car engine mounting or chassis.  It must be clipped onto a thick metal part of the engine, mounting or chassis.  This will prevent damage to the engine management system

If you have an older car without an engine management system you attach one clip on the red wire to +(positive) terminal on one battery (that's the bit that sticks out of the top of the battery and is marked with a +) and attach the clip at the other end of the red wire to the +(positive) terminal of the other car battery.

Step 5
Start up the running car and let it run for a minute or so.

Step 6
Start up the car with the flat battery as normal. You may need to try to start it a couple of times.  If it's not responding then wait another minute and try again

Step 7
You car engine will hopefully burst into life. Don't switch the engine off at that point as the battery will need some time to charge up again from the running engine.

Have your say

What do you like about YOU car?  What made you choose it?  Would you choose differently now?  Click here to visit our forums or why not post a comment below.....