How to Jump-Start Heavy-Duty Vehicles
April 8, 2021 11:34 pm Leave your thoughtsNot all vehicles are created equal. It seems pretty obvious when looking around on the roads, but there are more than just cosmetic differences. Under the hood, the engines and batteries are quite different as well.
Some engines are larger and, therefore, require more power. That also means they take more energy from the battery to start up. That is something to take into account when trying to jump-start a vehicle.
Jump-starting a car
There are some key differences to note when considering heavy-duty vs. car jump-starts in Wytheville, VA. When jump-starting a car, be it a sedan, compact car or even a light truck, one can usually accomplish this with a standard jump starter.
But even just looking at a small sedan next to a semi truck, you can probably guess that you won’t be able to jump the semi truck with something made to power a sedan’s battery—there’s just not enough power available to start those bigger engines. As you might imagine, a larger vehicle with a larger engine will require more power than a standard automobile or jump starter can deliver.
How to jump heavy-duty vehicles
Jump-starting a heavy-duty vehicle involves some different steps than jump-starting a light-duty car. Here’s how to jump heavy-duty vehicles in Wytheville, VA:
- Get the right tool for the job: There are many different types of jump starters out there, and even the ones labeled for heavy-duty use might not be the best fit for your vehicle. Make sure to check the specs when you use a jump starter to see if it will work with your vehicle.
- Find a good ground: When jump-starting a heavy-duty engine, you need a good, solid ground for a complete conductive circuit. Don’t connect to the carburetor, fuel lines or sheet metal body parts. Your best bet is to connect the ground wire to the chassis or engine block away from the battery.
- Check the battery water level: If you’ve got a traditional flooded battery, check to see if it has the right water level. If it’s low, add distilled water to the suggested specifications. Do not overfill, as this could cause leakage, and do not attempt to jump-start a frozen battery.
- Check the connections: Make sure all the connections on all batteries are secure and tight. Look for signs of discoloration around the battery connection, as that might mean there are carbon deposits on the cabling, which causes a voltage drop across the cabling.
- Jump the right battery: If your vehicle has multiple batteries, be sure to connect the jump starter to the battery closest to the starter. This way, the energy will flow to the starter rather than trying to fill a dead battery first.
Whether you’re looking to find out more about how to jump a semi in Wytheville, VA, or any heavy-duty vehicle, Complete Truck Service, Inc. has your back. With the tools and experience to handle any service you may need, Complete Truck Service, Inc. is your first call for heavy towing and roadside assistance.
Categorised in: Mobile Diesel Mechanic
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