Can you jump start a car in the rain? Yes!

Last Updated on June 1, 2021 by Victor A

If you ever wondered about how safe it is to jump start a car in the rain and if you can do it, we have good news for you. It’s safe, however, there are certain precautions you may take to ensure that everything goes as safely as possible.

Note, that jump-starting your car is not difficult, nor it requires a lot of time, although, make sure you follow through with the instructions and press attention to some of the precautions.

Below we discuss how safe it is, the potential hazards, how to do it, and a list of precautions you may be interested in, so you can jump start your car in the rain without any troubles.

Is it safe?

Yes, a car electrical system has a low voltage and the battery produces a low amount of amperage, therefore electrocuting yourself is very unlikely unless the cables are damaged or you attach the cables in the wrong terminals.

Nevertheless, there are some situations where you might want to keep an eye on, for example, before proceeding with the jump start, you need to examine the jump cables in search for any defect, or cut.

Another situation you might want to be warned about is when charging the battery after jump-starting your car, you’ll want to make sure you do it in an enclosed dry place, or when it’s sunny outside.

How to jump start a car in the rain:

The following instructions ensure that you safely jump start a car in the rain with all the necessary precautions, each step is laid out as simply as possible, and in a way that minimizes any potential hazard:

• Step 1: Since the jumper cables are usually not that long, get both cars as close to each other as possible. Once they are close to each other, turn the vehicles off, including the radio, lights, windshield wipers, AC, etc.
• Step 2: Connect the red cable (positive) to the red terminal (positive) of the working car battery first, and then connect the other clamp to the red terminal (positive) of the dead battery. Afterward, connect the black cable (negative) to the black terminal (black) of the working car battery, and subsequently connect the other clamp to a non-metallic component located far from the battery.
• Step 3: Start the working-battery car, and let it idle for about 10 minutes; after the prescribed time, start the dead-battery car.
• Step 4: Disconnect the black cables first, and then disconnect the red cables.
• Step 5: Drive the car for a bit and then let it idle for 20-40 minutes to allow the alternator to recharge the battery so it can start the car later.

Precautions

Preventing dangerous situations is very important, as jump-starting in the rain has some risks. Check out the following precautions, which ensures you understand the potential problems that may occur and how to avoid them:

• Inspect the cables for any damage. If there’s any sign of tears in the cables, rain could find its way inside and that could end up in a short circuit. Do not proceed with the jump start if the cables are damaged.
• When connecting the cables to the batteries, make sure you’re holding both clamps at the same time, so they don’t fall or get in contact with a metal object.
• Never connect the red cable with the black terminal or the black cable with the red terminal. This can result in a short circuit and lead to an explosion.
• After you jump start your car and let it idle for a while, charge the battery with a battery charger, however, do not charge the battery outside while raining. Only charge your car when it’s inside a dry place, or if it isn’t sunny outside.
• When disconnecting the cables from the batteries, make sure you prevent the clamps from touching any metallic object.
• If a thunderstorm is happening, avoid jump-starting your car, wait until it passes over.
• If possible, wear gloves.

Key Takeaways – You can jump start a car in the rain

As you see, you can easily jump start a car in the rain without much trouble. It can take a few minutes if done correctly, just make sure that you understand the following three precautions:

• Make sure the cables are in good condition, you want to check that the insulation of the cable is well in place.
• Do not cross cable (attaching the red cable in the black terminal, or the black cable in the red terminal). 
• When using a battery charger, do it inside a dry place, or when it’s not raining outside.

In case the instructions weren’t clear, find below a video showing the process: