Cadillac Repair: 2000 Cadillac Seville, cadillac seville, quality cables

Question
The key was accidentally left on and ran the battery dead. I put the car in neutral and roll out of garage. I tried to jump start and the car won't start. I was wondering if maybe the security system is not letting it start. The lights come on inside and when I turn the key to try to start it, it makes some electrical clicking noise and that's it.

Answer
Hi Jim,

    When jumpstarting a vehicle there are several things to watch out for or you will have problems.

    You need to use good quality cables that have good clamps along with heavy gauge cable. If you use the smaller gauge cables then enough current can't pass through to the vehicle with the low/dead battery and you just get clicking like you are experienceing.

    Make sure they have a good connection by wiggling them on the posts after attaching them.

    The idle speed on the running engine needs to be raised  to around 1500 rpm in order for the alternator to be able to provide the current to charge the other battery.

     Sometimes it takes up to 5 minuets before the engine will have enough juice in it to start. So you would need to keep the idle up before trying to start the second engine for that time.

     If that is the original battery or it is 4 or more years old it would be a good idea to replace it because in my experience that is about the time batteries start to fail. If you have access to a charger and the car is at home that would be the best thing to do is hook up the charger and let it sit on the 20 amp or less setting for a couple of hours to bring the battery back to life. Reason being is that once the engine starts the alternator realizes that the battery voltage is low and it will put out a high rate of charge to boost it back to normal. On occasion a weak alternator will be damaged by the hi charge demand and then you will need an alternator you didn't plan on. So the more the battery is charged the better it is for the alternator.

     Hope that helps get the engine started. Bill