What happens if you jump start wrong

Push starting is practically simple and straightforward. It involves and requires the strength you can exert to push and pull the car to the point that it gets enough momentum to start. Disconnect the cables in the reverse order: First remove the negative cable from the car you jumped, then the negative cable from the car with the good battery. Possible outcomes include irreparable damage to the battery, fried electronics, and even serious personal injury.

When disconnecting the cables from the old battery, disconnect the negative first, then the positive. Connect the new battery in the reverse order, positive then negative.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Lifehacks Is it bad to use your car to jump start another? Ben Davis February 15, Is it bad to use your car to jump start another?

I tried to take the rest of the cables out, but they had melted and affixed themselves to parts on the cars. Melting insulation, exposed wires, and smoke, it could have all progressed to a much worse situation. It was only three or four minutes, tops, in which all this transpired. But, that was all that was needed for the damage to happen. Thankfully, my wife and I responded quickly. Jumping a battery is a simple process. But, it still a dangerous one.

In my case, I am grateful that no electrical components got fried as a result of my errant ways. So, I want to remind my readers, please pay attention to any automotive related task, no matter how comfortable you think you are with it. For jumping batteries, make sure the leads are not crossed. Keep positive to positive and negative to negative. Long story short, I got too comfortable with what I have done in the past, and it cost me. I also had to replace a battery.

So, I learned the hard way to respect the dangers involved with car maintenance, no matter how familiar you are with what you are doing. If the engine of the vehicle with the charged battery is left running, the electrical surge can damage this vehicle's alternator.

When the jumper cables are incorrectly connected, the polarity of the electrical system on the vehicle with the dead battery will be reversed for a few seconds. This can irreparably damage many of the sensitive electronic components that are common on today's vehicles, such as on-board computers and electronic sensors.

Other Possible Damage The surge of electrical current can blow the fusible link or fuse element that protects the vehicle's main electrical system. Damage Due to Incorrect Polarity When the jumper cables are incorrectly connected, the polarity of the electrical system on the vehicle with the dead battery will be reversed for a few seconds.