If you want to avoid being stranded on the side of the road due to a dead battery, the best portable car jump starters are mandatory. It is a must-have tool that will help you restart your car. But what if a jump starter also fails you in the midst of a crisis?
Yes, your jump starter can also stop working any time because of numerous reasons. It can be because of a dead battery, weather, or some wiring issue. To help you figure that out, here are some of the reasons it isn’t working and what is the best way to repair a car jump starter on your own.
How to test a portable car jump starter?
Before you hit the road for that long trip, it is better to test your portable battery jump starter. There are various ways for testing a jump starter here’s how you can do that:
- Firstly, you have to check whether its battery is charged or not. Most jump starters have lights that indicate their charging.
- Also, you can use a voltmeter to check the condition of the battery.
- Â However, connect it directly to your vehicle to ensure it is working, and to know whether the problem is with the battery or there is some other issue.
- When you will connect the jump starter directly to your vehicle, you will face either of the following cases:
- If it does not generate the power to jumpstart, but the vehicle’s headlights are working, you would need to recharge its battery.
- If it does not generate power at all, its battery is dead and needs to be replaced.
- In case you charged your battery jump starter before, but it still isn’t generating the power, then the problem might be with the cable or its inside wiring.
Equipment for fixing a jump starter
Along with your basic tool kit, here’s the list of all the equipment that you will be needing while repairing your jump box:
- Â Â Â Screwdriver
- Â Â Â Wrench
- Â Â Â Small knife
- Â Â Â Pliers
- Â Â Â Soldering gun
- Â Â Â Protective gear
- Â Â Â Electronic cleaners
Fixing a portable car jump starter
After testing your car jump starter, you find out that it is no longer working and there is no apparent damage on the outside of the device. It’s time to fix it. Here are the steps that will demonstrate to you how you can repair the jump starters.
1. Dismantle Jump Starter
If you cannot figure out the problem from the outside, you would need to disassemble your jump box. For this, look whether there are screws or its body is bound. If there are screws, you can easily open them using a screwdriver.
If there are binds, then you would need to look for the joints. Then use a sharp knife to make small cuts, and with the help of a screwdriver, try to open its plastic case. Avoid exerting too much force to open the case.
2. Explore the Insides
Once you have opened the jumper starter’s casing, you should explore its insides to look for the damages. Most often, jump starters stop working because of some issue with their batteries. It can be because of corroded terminals, melting, and battery being discharged. If you find any of these issues, you would need a new battery for making it workable.
Other than that, there can be issues with the wiring inside the body of the jump box. Look for the main cable or its connector jack, whether they are in good condition or not. If it is completely damaged, you would need to replace it with a new one. Also, see if the overall wiring is connected securely or not.
However, if your circuit board is burnt or damaged, then you would not be able to fix it yourself and would need to take the assistance of a technician.
3. Plugging in a New Battery
If there was an issue with the battery, then plugging in a new battery is inevitable to make your car jump starter work again. First, you have to locate the battery. Usually, it’s right next to its circuit board. Also, see how it’s connected to the circuit so that you know how to connect the new one. It would be handy if you took a snapshot of it, so when necessary, you can refer to it.
Dismantle the damaged battery and replace it with a new one. To connect a jump starter’s circuit with battery terminals, you’ll need a soldering iron.
4. Fixing Jump Starter’s Connector Jack
If its cables or connector jack itself is damaged, it would also need to be replaced. For fixing it, firstly disconnect it from the jumper starter. Next, see if other wires are damaged because of their connector jack. If there are, use your soldering gun to mend them. Then install a new connector jack in place of the damaged ones, and solder it, too.
5. Repairing the Wires
If there isn’t an issue with the battery or its connector jack, then look for the loosely tied wires. It might be because of this that your jump box doesn’t generate enough power to help restart your vehicle. Again, you would need the soldering gun to ensure that the wires are firmly connected.
6. Reassemble
When you have fixed all the above-mentioned issues, you can reassemble your battery jump starter. Place every part back into its plastic case safely, and place the screws. If there were joints, then with the help of your soldering gun, you can bind its case.
7. Recharge and Test the Jump Starter
After that, your repaired jump starter would be ready to be recharged. Connect your power adapter with the power source and charge the battery until it indicates a completely charged sign. Then, you should again test it with the aforementioned method.
If you have followed this process rightly, it’s more likely that you have repaired it completely. If it still isn’t in working condition, you should avail the services of a technician.
How long do portable jumpstarters last?
Most of the battery jump starters are fit to use for about 5 to 6 years. But if you take precautionary measures and charge it regularly, it can serve you for more than 10 years. Since jump starters have acid lead batteries they tend to corrode or discharge in a too hot or too cold atmosphere.
So, if you want to extend its lifespan, you should keep it in a place with moderate temperature. Also, you would need to make sure to charge it every time you use it to jumpstart your vehicle. Even if car jump starters have not been in use for a while, you would need to recharge them regularly. Ideally, you should charge it once every month. If you can’t then charging it regularly at 3 months intervals is mandatory. If your portable jump starter not charging then see the mechanic’s guide to fix it.
FAQ
Why is my portable car jump starter not working?
There can be numerous reasons for the failure of jump starters. Mostly, it’s because of a dead battery. But there might be issues like damaged cables, broken jack, or it can be corrosion because of humidity which causes the jump starters to malfunction.
Do portable jump boxes go bad?
With great care, jump starters can be workable for up to 10 years. However, most jump starters come with lead-acid batteries, which can discharge themselves, if it’s stored in a hot and humid place or without charging for a long period. To avoid that, ensure that you are charging it every month or at least once every three months.
Can I replace the battery in the jump starters?
The acid batteries of jump starters self-discharge and get corroded over time. Therefore, it needs replacement. So yes, for jump starters battery replacement is possible. In Fact, in most cases replacing the battery makes it workable again.
How to test portable battery jump starters?
For testing jump starters, you would need to connect them directly to your vehicle and check whether it powers the vehicle or not. If it fails to jumpstart, and the headlights are dim, then the battery needs to be recharged. If you already charged it, then the problem might be with the jack or the wiring. You can also see the battery condition through the indicator lights on jump starters or use a voltmeter.
Conclusion
Jumpstarters are mandatory tools to keep with you. But, because of various reasons, it can also stop working anytime. Therefore, it’s necessary to test your car jump starter regularly or at least before a long trip. And if you find it in damaged condition, you should also know how to fix it.
By following the process we discussed, you will be able to repair jump starters on your own. However, if you find issues with its circuit, you would need to consult a professional technician.
As a mechanical engineer, it’s easy for David to explain the functionality of the tool. David test most of the tools before writing a review. its help him to learn something new and suggest the best product for you.
My jump starter did not jump my battery even though its air compressor, USB and flash light work, could it be its battery is the issue why it is not jumping my car battery. I later used my neighbor’s jump starter and it jumped my car battery.
My Jump starter won’t jump my car battery. I tried with my neighbor’s jump starter and it did the work. My jump starter’s air compressor and flash light are working well. So what could be the problem with my starter. It is about 10 years old so could it be the battery that stopped working even though the air compressor and the flash light work? Thanks.