Can You Jumpstart A Car In The Rain?
Most of us believe that jumpstarting a car in the rain is dangerous. But it’s just like jumping a car on any other day. Boosting a car has its risks so it’s always best to call for roadside assistance.
If you don’t have any prior knowledge you should not try your hands at boosting your car on your own. Boosting a car in rain is not exactly dangerous but it can expose your battery to water droplets that can reduce the life of the battery.
How Safe Is It To Jumpstart Your Car In The Rain?
We know that water is a good conductor of electricity. So, jumpstarting a car during a rain storm could be dangerous, right? Wrong, jumping a car in the rain is perfectly safe as long as you follow these basic rules.
- The first thing you need to do is to make sure that the jumper cables are in good condition. If they are old, the insulation may be damaged. This could cause a short circuit, especially if water finds its way into the cable. So, it’s better to protect yourself and the battery from the rain with an umbrella.
- Secondly, you need to take all the necessary usual precautions for jumpstarting a car. Wear gloves, don’t touch the battery terminals, and connect the wires in the right order.
Step-By-Step Guide To Jumpstarting Your Car In The Rain
- Switch off all the electrical systems of your car before starting it. Such as the radio, lights and air conditioning. You want all the energy to go into the flat battery.
- The other car should be parked close to the dead car. So that the jumper cables can comfortably reach the terminals. Also maintain a safe distance between the two vehicles to ensure that they don’t touch each other and cause damage.
- Over the open hood use a water-resistant material that can protect and cover the battery from moisture and rain.
- Switch off both car engines and make sure that the ignition keys are removed.
- Attach one red end of the jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery and the other red end to the positive terminal of the working battery.
- Now attach the black end of the jumper cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery and the other black end of the cable to the negative terminal of the healthy battery.
- Now start the donor car to provide electricity to the dead car.
- Then start the car with the weak battery. Once it starts, leave it for at least 30 minutes to recharge the flat battery.
- If the dead car still hasn’t started then there might be some other problem which needs to be fixed. Call a reliable towing company for help.
- Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order.
Dangers Of Jumpstarting Your Car Yourself
Jumpstarting can be risky if you don’t have any experience. A faulty battery can start a fire or burn the entire electrical system of the car. Jumper cables often create sparks and if not done correctly can result in a fire or even an explosion. The batteries contain sulphuric acid that is highly flammable and can result in hazardous incidents if not dealt with care. So, it is highly recommended that you call a professional for help. They have the knowledge and experience and can handle the jumping process for you.
Jumpstarting your car in the rain might not cause you any harm, but it can damage your car. Cars have complex electrical systems which you may not understand and may cause damage to your vehicle. It’s better to call a professional who understands all this and can do the job for you without any damage.
About Action Towing
Action Towing 24/7 emergency roadside assistance is there quickly to help you resolve your car emergency. We provide the highest quality roadside assistance and emergency services for cars, fleets, and trucks. If you don’t want to remain stranded on the road for a long time waiting for assistance, contact us.