Can You Jump Start An Automatic Car

It’s an important meeting and you’ve to reach it on time. After gobbling your breakfast, you rush towards the car, turn the key around, expecting to hear a whirring sound from the engine. To your horror, there is nothing but crickets. The engine is dead, and your dream of arriving on time is in danger. Like pouring gasoline on fire, the situation has gone from bad to worse. You could call a mechanic, or you can find a nearby vehicle with an active battery, grab jump start leads and get cracking right there.

Can You Safely Jump-Start an Automatic Car?

First things first, knowing how to operate a jump lead is highly important, and if you don’t have a clue, it’s best to get professional help. There is a specific order of connecting jump start leads to the batteries.

Make sure you know that, or otherwise you risk severely damaging your automatic vehicle. If the jump-start kit was randomly connected to car batteries, it could cause smoke, fire, and your battery to deep fry like a battered sausage. In short, be prepared to belt out a huge amount to fix a small issue. It’s a lost cause if your car is parked in such a way that another car can’t come close enough to jump-start your automatic vehicle.

Let’s go through this scenario:

What to Do If You Can’t Get Another Car Close Enough to Jump-Start Your Automatic?

It happens as there is always a worst-case scenario, like your automatic vehicle being unreachable. Don’t sweat it, because there is always a way out. 

We’re going to swirl past a few of those briefly:

• Longer Set of Jump Leads

There is a standard size of jump-start leads, but a quick search on an e-commerce platform or a visit to an automotive shop can get you jump leads that are bigger and handy in situations where it’s impossible to reach your automatic car.

• Clipping Two Sets Of Jump Leads Together

Don’t have the time to buy a new set? Completely understandable, and there is a way to get around it. 

You can clip two sets of jump-start leads together and cover the extra distance that’s stopping your automatic car from being jump-started. Be careful, though, the joints will be exposed, so leave them dangling in the air for safety purposes.

• Get A Rechargeable Jump Starter

A quick scroll on the internet or a visit to a physical store will unveil a hidden treasure, a rechargeable jump starter. 

This rechargeable jump starter comes with a set of clamps for easy connection. Just attach it to your car battery and start your engine; no need for another vehicle. It also features USB ports, allowing you to charge your phone or other devices on the go.

• Remove a Battery from One Car and Use It to Start Another

You can also remove the battery from one car and bring it over to where your car is parked. This method will require some time and effort on your part, but it works and can get your car started within a few minutes.

Why Can Automatic Vehicles Only Be Jump-Started But Not Push-Started? 

Thinking about push-starting an automatic car with a dead battery? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that won’t work. You see, automatic vehicles have a mechanism that shuts down the wheels from rolling when the car is in the “P” (Parked) position. 

This acts as a safety feature too, but prevents automatic cars from being push-started. For manual cars, push-starting is a method to get the engine running without the starter and instead relying on the car’s momentum.  

Conclusion

Yes, you can jump-start an automatic car, and there are numerous methods of doing so, ranging from jump leads to alternatives like rechargeable jump starters. You can easily jump-start an automatic car by safely connecting the jump leads to the battery terminals. Make sure to follow all precautionary measures or get professional help if you have no idea how to use jump leads. Your car might be damaged, resulting in a big hole in your pocket. It’s better to be safe than sorry.