How to jump start a car & what you need to know about tow straps?

A car’s battery might fail at any time, and it’s a regular problem that you’ll have to deal with at least once in your driving career. If you are not looking to hire a local tow truck every time this happened to you, then you need to learn how to jump start your vehicle.  

If you need to jump-start your automobile, you’ll need certain equipment and the right approach to avoid damaging your battery or the battery of another vehicle, depending on whether you have a manual or automatic transmission.

Any local tow truck expert will tell you that it will also depend on if you have a jump starter box or jump starter wires, as well as whether you have access to another vehicle. Jump starter cables, a tow truck, or a battery service to replace the dead battery are all options for starting a dead automobile battery.

In case of car trouble what you need to know according to our local tow truck experts:

  • What You’ll Need to Jumpstart Your Car
  • Use Jumper Cables to Restart Your Car Battery
  • When a Car Battery Doesn’t Jump-Start With Jumper Cables, What Should You Do
  • Starting A Car With A Push
  • Ask For Towing Services

What You’ll Need to Jumpstart Your Car?

According to the local tow truck experts, you’ll need the following items to get your automobile battery working again:

Jumper Cables:

Jumper cables are used to jump start an automobile battery that has died. They feature clips on both ends, and the clips are usually red and black in colour. The red clip is charged positively, whereas the black clip is charged negatively.

Alternate Power Source:

Local tow truck drivers believe that a jump box or another automobile with a working battery is a great source of alternate power. A jump box is a battery that you can simply transport in your car. 

The jumper wires are used to reconnect it to the car in order to restart it. A jump box functions similarly to having a second vehicle. If your car battery dies and there are no other automobiles nearby, it is preferable to have a jump box.

Use Jumper Cables to Restart Your Car Battery

When you find your car battery is dead, get your jumper cables and jump box, or if you’re using another vehicle, drive it near your car while facing the hood. The jump wires should be able to reach both car batteries with ease.

According to the local tow truck experts, not having enough power in the alternate battery is one of the most common mistakes. So, make sure the jump box has adequate battery power to restart your vehicle’s battery and that the voltage system is the same as your car’s. Because it lacks the necessary power, a 6V jump box will not be able to restart a 12V automobile battery.

If you are using two different automobiles:

  • The initial step is to connect the two autos and then park or neutralise them.
  • Turn the car off completely and apply the parking brake.
  • Secure the car hoods by opening them.
  • Connect the jumper cables to the vehicle.

If you’re using jumper cables and a jumper box to jump-start your car like local tow truck experts, make sure to follow the steps below to avoid damaging your car battery or the other car’s battery.

Putting the Jumper Cables Together

The following is the order on how to connect two jumper cables according to the local tow truck experts for two automobiles:

  • Connect the red clip to the car’s positive terminal on the battery. A (+) sign will appear on the positive terminal.
  • Then connect the other car’s positive terminal to the other side of the red clip.
  • Connect the black clip to the other car’s negative terminal.
  • Attach the other side of the black clip to the dead car’s battery. Do not connect it to the negative terminal at this time. Attach it to a bare metal location near the hood of the car.

Jump-Start a Car

  • The first instruction from local tow truck drivers is to start the other car and let it run for a short while after the three clips are connected to the dead car battery and the other automobile.
  • Check for battery activity in the automobile being restarted; for example, an interior light or the radio may have turned on. This indicates that the battery is being charged.
  • Start the automobile with the dead battery after some time has passed, and if it starts, unclip the jumper cables.
  • Instead of turning off the automobiles, unclip the black clip from the metal section of the ACR of the vehicle being jumped. Then remove the black clip from the other car’s negative terminal. 
  • Then unclip the red clip from the other car, and then the red clip from the dead positive terminal car.
  • Allow the jump-started automobile battery to run for a while before turning it off.

When utilising a jump box, turn on the power switch on the jump box and then follow the steps above. After the automobile has started, turn off the power and detach the clips in the order listed above.

When a Car Battery Doesn’t Jump-Start With Jumper Cables, What Should You Do?

If the dead car battery still won’t start after being jump-started, double-check that the jumper wire connections are secure. Not having a proper connection is another common mistake according to the local tow truck experts. If it doesn’t work, the car battery may need to be replaced because it won’t jump start.

Push Starting An Automobile

Push starting a car with a dead battery necessitates the use of force. If you don’t have a jump box or another vehicle, you may need to employ this method. Here is how you should do it according to the local tow truck experts, to get started with this strategy, you’ll need more than one individual.

The following are the steps you will take:

  • Take a seat in the driver’s seat and start the vehicle.
  • Your passengers in the back will be ready to push.
  • Push the clutch in and shift to second gear while keeping the parking brake on. First gear is not recommended since the car may jerk excessively.
  • Your pals should begin pressing when you release the parking brake and press the brake pedal.
  • Release the clutch when the car reaches around 5 mph, and the engine will provide a small kick as the battery tries to catch up. If the engine starts, keep it revving and drive for a while.
  • If it doesn’t, repeat the technique while driving at a faster speed and release the clutch.

If none of these methods would work, you will be in a dire situation to call for towing services. 

Almost every driver will require the assistance of towing services in Brisbane or a flatbed truck at some point. Most people imagine towing services in Brisbane is to remove a car that has been damaged in an accident. Surprisingly, more than half of towing is carried out for other purposes, such as:

  • Getting a car that has run off the road back on the road
  • Getting a vehicle that has been parked illegally moved
  • Getting a vehicle to a different place
  • Getting a broken-down car to a mechanic

So, here is everything you need to know about tow straps if you ever need to use one. 

Various Straps for Various Purposes

Both tie down straps and tow straps are used to attach a vehicle for transporting, however, when and how they are employed depends on the following factors:

  • The purpose of the towing work.
  • The kind of car that will be towed.
  • How to keep vehicle damage to a minimum or remove it entirely during transport.

If you have any queries regarding how your vehicle can be towed, don’t sweat the specifics; call us and speak with one of our experts for Austow towing services in Brisbane.

Tow Straps: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Tow straps, as the name implies, are the preferred method of pulling vehicles behind a tow truck. The tow straps are secured to the tow truck’s tow bar after being attached to the front or back end of the car. These are the most commonly used straps for towing services in Brisbane. 

Tow straps are used to lift the front end of a vehicle off the ground for towing services if it has front-wheel drive.

Tow straps are used to hold the back end of an automobile off the ground when hauling if it has rear-wheel drive. The front or rear end of the vehicle is connected to the tow bar at the back of the tow truck.

Flatbed trucks are ideal for towing all-wheel drive, or 4WD, automobiles and motorbikes. All-wheel-drive automobiles and bikes, on the other hand, may be towed behind a tow truck using tow dollies and wheel lift bars.

To reduce vehicle movement and keep the tyres in place while on the road, tow straps are inflexible and have little elasticity. 

Recovery tow straps are dependable, have no metal clamps, and are flexible enough to allow for the movement required to strap down a car that has run off the road or become trapped in mud, sand, or water and needs to be hauled back onto the road.

When Should You Use Tie Down Straps?

On flatbed trucks, tie down straps are used to safely and securely hold a vehicle. The configuration will be influenced by the level of security required for a vehicle.

The number of tie-down straps can range from as few as two for motorbikes to as many as eight or ten for automobiles, SUVs, ATVs, and small trucks or buses. This is why they are the most popular choice for towing services in Brisbane. 

Before the tie down straps are secured into place on the platform of a flatbed truck, one or two tie downs are looped around each tyre. The tie downs are sturdy enough to prevent the vehicle from shifting during transit.

Flatbed trucks are the safest way to transport four-wheel-drive automobiles, accident-damaged vehicles, hot rods, sports cars, and high-end luxury cars.

What Is the Difference Between Towing Materials and What Is the Importance of Towing Materials?

Both tie-down and tow straps are composed of woven materials that are designed to withstand all forms of car towing. Tow straps have a thicker weave to support the need to retain tyres in place while on the road or during recovery, whereas tie down straps is long and flat to tighten the hold strain on a flatbed.

If you have to hire a professional towing service in Brisbane or call a friend for local towing, in either case, both of the tow straps would work. However, it is highly advisable not to try DIY for towing unless it is absolutely needed. As it often brings more risks than benefits. 

Austow is one of the well-recognized names for towing service in Brisbane, we have a large selection of towing strap materials that can safely sustain any hauling load capacity.

When you need a towing service in Brisbane right away or want to plan a towing relocation, call us at any time of day or night for a prompt, competent response. We will ask you for certain vehicle weight and identification information, as well as the location and distances between locations, to guarantee that our specialised local tow truck driver comes with the appropriate towing supplies for your needs.