AA Power Station - Car Jump Starter Tyre Inflator AA1678 - Petrol Vehicles up to 2.5L and Diesels 1.6L - LED Light, 60cm Hose USB Output, YELLOW

Product Information

If you think it's likely a flat battery, try jump-starting your car. 3. If you can't jump start your car, get in touch so we can charge or replace your car battery.

Power Station

The vehicle with the flat battery, which needs to be in a spot where jump leads can easily reach the battery. In 2018, a flat battery was the second-biggest reason why our Members broke down, and we were called out to more than 300,000 of them.* It won't charge a flat battery, but it'll help to keep the battery charged on a vehicle you don't use much. If we can't see why the battery died or we think it's faulty, we'll carry out a battery test. Our test is very thorough and we'll only ever recommend a new car battery if you really need one.

3. Connect the black jump lead

Maximum capacity – Engine sizes have been shrinking in recent times, and unless you’re running a huge land yacht of a car, you won’t need a hugely powerful jump starter. A jump start is a handy way to start a car with a flat battery. But jump leads can cause damage to both cars and people if they’re not used properly. Safety features – There’s some serious voltage running through a jump starter, and electricity can cause pain and fire if not used properly. Look for non-sparking leads as well as protection against overcharging and reverse polarity. After all, for the money you’re paying, you should expect it to be safe to use. If you don't use the car much, you can leave these connected for long periods without damaging the battery.

Best Portable Jump Starters of 2023 - Lifewire The Best Portable Jump Starters of 2023 - Lifewire

There are a few ways you can avoid getting a flat battery and help your car's battery last longer: 1. Go for regular drives Most batteries will last somewhere between 5 and 7 years. However, our mechanics see cases where the battery has failed after only 2 or 3 years because of how the car was driven. For your safety, and our peace of mind, we’d always prefer you to give us a call and leave the jump starting to our trained mechanics. Use the red jump lead to connect the working battery’s positive (+) terminal to the flat battery’s positive (+) terminal.Plus, modern cars have lots more power-hungry electronics than older cars used to. Think of built-in sat navs, infotainment systems, seat heaters and USB plugs. All of them put strain on the battery. If your car won't start at home, it could be because of a flat battery, failed starter motor or a faulty alternator – all things we can help with. Will the AA come to my house?

What to do if your car has a flat battery | The AA

Another vehicle with a fully-charged battery (avoid a hybrid or electric car as this could cause damage). You can halve the battery's lifetime by not fully charging it regularly. This costs you money and risks your car having a breakdown. Keep both engines off and wait for 3 minutes, then start the working car’s engine and let it run for 1 minute.Park both cars so their batteries are within easy reach of one another (without the cars actually touching). Make sure all electricals like heaters, windscreen wipers and stereo are off when you park or start the car. Our Battery Assist service will help you whether you're a Member or not. And you can also call us out even if it's not an emergency breakdown. Portable jump starters have a built-in battery, meaning they can be used on the go whenever you need them. The only downside is that you must charge them after use, which can take several hours.

Jump Start System HP082 - For Car RAC 400 Amp Rechargeable Jump Start System HP082 - For Car

We fix 9 out of 10 breakdowns at home, and if we can't fix your vehicle, we'll sort out the recovery of your vehicle as usual. I've broken down at home with no cover, what now? Fortunately modern lithium battery-based jump starters are compact and lightweight, and can even double up as an everyday USB charger in some cases. But traditional big heavy lead/acid starters remain popular too. In this test we compare both types, and a third emerging technology. Find out more about our specialist battery testersand instant breakdown cover if you've broken down.

1. Line up both cars

We prefer models with built-in safety features and alerts, to warn against wrongful connection, dead shorts, and a low charge on the car battery, when being used as a jump starter. Such alerts may just save you damaging your jump starter and your car’s delicate electronics. Our recommendation? Having both a jump starter and a battery charger can be helpful. A battery charger is better if you have access to a power outlet and have enough time to charge the battery, while a jump starter is better in a pinch for those who need to get on the road right away. Does the jump starter need to multi-start 12v diesel engines including cars, vans and 4×4’s? Supplied to the AA and RAC, the MR26 is a well proven professional 12v jump starter capable of starting up to 8 litre petrol and 4 litre diesel engines. If you’re keen to do it yourself, take a look at our advice on how to jump start a car. But make sure you read the instructions in your handbook and follow those if they're different to our steps.