Emergency starting
72
Starting an engine with a discharged battery
The ONLY recommended methods of
restarting a vehicle with a discharged battery
are:
• The use of a substitute battery fitted to the
disabled vehicle.
• The use of booster cables to connect the
battery from a donor vehicle to the
discharged battery.
USING BOOSTER CABLES
WARNING
Batteries emit explosive hydrogen gas -
keep sparks and naked lights away from the
battery compartment.
Make sure BOTH batteries are of the same
voltage (12 volts), and that the booster
cables have insulated clamps and are
approved for use with 12 volt batteries.
DO NOT connect positive (+) terminals to
negative (-) terminals, and ensure booster
cables are kept away from any moving parts
in the engine compartment.
Take care when working near rotating parts
of the engine.
Always adopt the following procedure when
using booster cables:.
1. If a donor vehicle is to be used, both
vehicles should be parked with their
battery locations adjacent to each other.
Ensure that the two vehicles do not touch.
2. Apply the handbrakes and ensure that the
transmission of both vehicles is set in
neutral (’P’ or Park for donor vehicles with
automatic transmission).
3. Turn off the starter switch and ALL
electrical equipment of BOTH vehicles.
4. Connect the RED booster cable between
the positive (+) terminal of the donor
battery and the positive (+) terminal of the
discharged battery.
5. Connect the BLACK booster cable from the
negative (-) terminal of the donor battery
to a good earthing point on the disabled
vehicle (eg. an engine mounting or other
unpainted metal surface) - at least 0.5m
away from the battery and well away from
fuel and brake lines. For safety reasons,
DO NOT connect this cable to the
negative terminal of the discharged
battery.
6. Check that the booster cables are clear of
any moving parts in either engine, then
start the engine of the donor vehicle and
allow it to idle for a few minutes.
7. Now start the vehicle with the discharged
battery.
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