Jump Start

Problem:  How to “Jump Start” your car, when battery dies?

Technical Term: Jump Start

Types of vehicle in concern: Both diesel and petrol vehicles.

Wikipedia definition: A jump start, also called a boost, is a method of starting an automobile or other vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine when the vehicle's battery has been discharged. A second battery (often in another vehicle) is temporarily connected to provide starting power to the disabled vehicle. Once the disabled vehicle's engine is running, its alternator or generator should recharge the dead battery, so the second battery can be disconnected.

Requirements:

1.  Two Jumper Cables
2. A second car in a running condition with charged battery.

Procedure: To jump start the vehicle, follow the below stated steps-

1. Take two Jumper Cables; connect one to positive terminal of the charged battery on second car.
2. Connect this cable to the positive terminal of battery of your car.
3. Take the second jumper cable and connect it to the negative terminal of battery on the second car.
4. This second cable should then, in turn, be connected to a solid, unpainted metallic part on your car.
5. Now, turn on the engine on the second car.
6. Increase the engine speed a little bit and maintain it for approximately 5 minutes. This will help to recharge your battery.
7. While maintaining this speed on second car, start your car.

Illustration:

                                                                   

Hope this knowledge will be useful for you all, at some point in time.

Regards,

Nitesh

Caution: It is suggested to use cars with similar battery configuration for Jump Starting. Do not attempt to Jump Start a car with a truck, it may have harmful consequences.

Disclaimer: These solutions are mainly been suggested by the local mechanics and, in most cases, self-employed. These may or may not be in line with the steps used as standard practice by manufacturers.  

                                                                                                    

Introduction to the blog and our first problem in discussion, "Air Lock"

The following post is in line of several posts coming your way to make you aware of simple solutions of different problems faced by us with our automobiles which make us stuck on roads, making us feel helpless. Solutions to these problems are not always difficult and would not require assistance of a professional. These posts will also help you differentiate between small, frivolous and big, serious issues so that, when stuck, you can immediately take a decision on your next course of action. Hope these posts will be informative for you all.

Post 1:

Problem: Air In Fuel Line or, as our local mechanics/technicians in India call it, "Gadi ne air le li".

Technical Term: Air Lock

Types of vehicles in concern: Diesel fueled vehicles 

Wikipedia definition: An air lock is gas trapped in a high point of a liquid-filled pipe system. The gas, being lighter than the liquid, rises to the highest point and restricts the flow of liquid. In very tall systems, the gas can prevent flow entirely.

Causes:

1. Driving with very less fuel in tank.

2. Leakage in fuel pipe.

3. When diesel filter is changed.

Symptoms:

After turning the key to start the engine, sound of starter motor can be heard but engine does not start.

Solution:

The fuel pumps in diesel vehicles may be of two types, automatic and manual. The solution for Air Lock in both the types are as follows:

Manual fuel pump:

If you doubt that the issue is Air Lock, follow the following steps to confirm and then, to push the air out of the fuel line:

1. Top the fuel tank to full.

2. Turn the key to off position.

3. Open the hood and locate the fuel filter. 

4. There will be a small priming pump attached to this filter. The operating mechanism for this pump may be a rod with a round, flat washer like component attached to its end (looking like the flat end of a syringe but a bit bigger) or a rubber ball attached to the filter assembly. T

5. Try operating priming pump once by pressing and depressing the rod or ball, if there is no or less resistance, it confirms the Air Lock.

6. Now start operating the pump, in similar way as step 6, repeatedly till it offers resistance and it becomes difficult to press. Then stop.

7. Try cranking the engine now, it should start.

8. If it does not, repeat step 6 two to three times more.

9. Still if the engine does not start, the next step is to loosen up the bleeding screw attached at the lower side of the filter.

10. Loosen up the bleeding screw a bit (do not remove completely) and start operating the pump as in step 5 till fuel starts leaking out.

11. Once fuel starts leaking out, tighten up the screw again.

12. Now crank the engine, it should start.

13. If it still does not start, start operating pump as in step 6 and simultaneously crank the engine continuously. This should start the engine. Do remember that this step should be the last resort as this may strain the starter motor a bit.

Automatic fuel pump:

It is very easy to bleed the fuel filters fitted with automatic pumps. Normally, there won't be any requirement to bleed these filters as the pumps automatically forces the air out as soon as the   

ignition switch is turned on. If still the Air Lock issue occurs, turn the ignition on and off approximately 8 to 10 times, then crank the engine. This should start it.

If you end up facing the Air Lock issue, follow these steps and you should be up and running in no time. 

Regards,

Nitesh

Disclaimer: These solutions are mainly been suggested by the local mechanics and, in most cases, self employed. These may or may not be in line with the steps used as standard practice by manufacturers.