Before getting into detail, let’s start with the basics that are the three main things an engine requires to get started; air-fuel mixture in the right ratio, on-time spark, and the right compression.
The spark comes from the power that has drawn from the vehicle’s alternator. For a car to get running, we need the power to push up the piston for the right amount of compression as well as to create the spark.
Initially, this kind of power is drawn from the battery by the starter motor, which creates the forces that make the pistons move.
Within a couple of rotations, the alternator generates enough voltage to cause a spark that starts the engine.
Car won’t jump start no power?
The car won’t jump-starts because there is no power, and there is no power because the battery is drained or has gone out completely.
When there isn’t enough charge to turn the starter motor on, you left with only two options: push-starts or jump start.
Push start
Here we use a little hack, instead of getting power from the starter motor, we bypass it and use the brute force (pushing the car in gear) and get the piston moving.
Jumpstart
In this method, we use an external source, i.e. a host car that provides charge to the drained battery of the other vehicle which gives it enough charge to get going.
Then both the batteries are used to turn the starters.
Car batteries are completely dead and won’t jump?
If your car battery has died completely and even jump-starting won’t work, try using the following methods to make it work:
- Try connecting to a working battery for a couple of minutes and then retry recharging. Stop immediately if you see any smoke. In this case, you might want to check the water level.
- Try charging it for 10-15min via the jump-start method and then check the voltage if it’s still below 13, there is something wrong with the battery. Use a charger to check the battery’s health; if it’s not above 70, it’s in bad condition.
There are two methods of jump-starting the car:
Portable Jump Starter Method
This method is far easier and quicker. All you need is a jump starter and get to work.
Start by connecting the positive lead(red) of the jump starter to the positive terminal of the dead battery and negative lead (black) to a metal earthing point; maybe a bolt or a bracket.
Once they are correctly secured, switch on the booster. Here you might want to wait a couple of minutes for the battery to get enough charge.
Now try starting the vehicle. DO NOT turn off the booster just yet. If it starts, turn it off and disconnect the terminals in the reverse order.
Car to Car Jump Starter Method
For this method, you need to make sure you carry each step the right way and in the correct order.
Get the cars as close to each as possible but make sure they are not in contact. Use Jump Cables min 6 gauge although, a four gauge is better.
Next, take the cables and connect the positive terminal of the working battery to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Be careful with the negative one as it should not hang freely.
Here is something important to remember, do not connect the black clamp (-vet) to the dead battery’s negative terminal once the other clamp attaches to the working battery.
This clamp goes on a metallic part away from the battery. The purpose of this is to complete the circuit. You might notice small sparks that are pretty normal.
However, if you see some severe sparking, the battery is short, and you must not jump-start until you replace it.
Time to rev up the engine a bit. If the car doesn’t start, recheck the connection. The dead car battery would charge up within 10-15min.
When you have done, and your engine gets going, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order (negative first and then positive).
Despite following the above procedure correctly the engine does start, you probably need a new battery. Check the warranty; if you still have it, you can claim a new one in its place. Otherwise, you’ll have to buy a new one.
Car won’t jump start, but lights Come on
Car batteries take some time to charge, and every battery requires a different amount of charge and time to charge up fully. It depends on the dead battery.
Usually, what people do is hook up the jumper cables and try to jump-start right away. That is what’s causing you the hassle.
Let it sit for a while, depending on how dead your battery is. If the lights are turning on, but the car isn’t starting, that means the battery has begun to charge, but it isn’t enough for the engine to start up. Always remember, it is never going to work right away, give time. Turning the lights on is actually a smart thing to do as it confirms a working connection.
However, if you have been charging for more than 10-15min the lights are on, but the engine won’t start, your battery is dead and needs to replaced.
Can a Car Battery be too Dead to jump start?
I have a one-word answer for you, and that is NO. If your battery is dead, all you need is an external source to enough charge to power up the starter, which is why the jump start method works great.
It called the jump start method as it involves jumping from the source car to the dead battery car and running the former until the dead one gets enough charge to start.
This method works for almost any car as the dead battery will receive a charge, and the engine subs systems will get the necessary power before the engine cranks up.
Recommendation for Jump Starters
NOCO Boost Plus Jump Starter Pack
This compact yet powerful piece of equipment will safely jump start your car’s dead battery in no time. The best part about it is that there is no worry of setting up a wrong connection; get 20 jump starts on a single charge without any hassle. It is a multipurpose jump starter that means you can use it for more than just a dead car battery.
You can recharge it using a USB port at 2.1-amps, it takes around 3 hours to charge fully. At a rating of 10-amps, it is suitable for gasoline engines (6 Liters) and diesel engines (3 Liters). This means it works for cars, lawnmowers, boats, and much more. Check the latest Price Here
DBPOWER 800A Car Jump Starter for Gas or Diesel Engine
It offers a powerful 800 amps peak current, you can charge SUVs, 12V cars, trucks, or vans around 30 times on a full charge. Its high-end design and versatility enable the user to jump-start 7.0L Gas or 5.5L Diesel Engine, and with the power of a 12V Auto Battery Booster with an LCD Screen, you can have a user-friendly experience when it comes to maintenance and use, no hassle there either. You can easily charge it with a portable power bank and a USB cable. There is an emergency LED emergency flashlight that goes red to indicate a hazard. To check the latest Price Click Here
Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660 1700 Jump Starter
Another fine choice among top-notch quality jump starters is Clore automotive jump starter. With a 22Ah battery,425 cranking amp, and 1,700 Peak Amps, it provides a hassle-free jump-start operation. It offers durability with heavy-duty wires and an innovative design that includes a voltmeter for displaying the voltage. It has a built-in automatic charger that is great. To check the latest price click here
Car won’t jump-start just clicks / when I try to jump my car it just clicks.
In such a case there is usually a dead cell in the battery. However, there is also a chance that the deposits on the battery terminals are causing trouble.
For this, you’ll need to clean the terminals and maintain wires with a mixture of baking soda and water. Use a brush for thorough and easy cleaning.
Another way you hear a click but don’t get a jump-start is a bad battery which has a bad connection. Get the battery checked for its health.
To check on the spot if there is a problem with the battery, swap the good battery from the other vehicle and then jump-start, if it starts working this way, you need a battery replacement.
If your car is manual, try jump-starting in a 4-low; if it is automatic, try in neutral. It will bypass the clutch, and you can start it without pushing the clutch. Remember to put it out of gear.
Why won’t my car start and just click?
If your car is clicking and new still won’t jump-start, it can be one of the two problems:
Corroded Battery Terminals
When there is clicking, but the engine won’t start, it is because there isn’t enough charge. Please remove the battery terminals and clean up each pole with baking soda and water and gently brush it to get those tough deposits off. Make sure to clean the jumper cable and its clamps too.
Weak battery
If you have cleaned the terminals and still there is only clicking, it pretty much sounds like a weak battery or bad connection. Clicking only occurs after jump start when the battery doesn’t have enough charge or isn’t delivering enough charge.
Swap it with a good battery and retry jump-starting. If it works, you need a new battery.
What does it mean when a car won’t start just clicks?
If your car is clicking and won’t start, it means that your battery is not providing enough charge. It can be due to a lot of reasons, either the battery posts are corroded and require cleaning, or it has something to do with the battery’s health. It might be dead short or had a bad solenoid.