How Long Should You Wait to Turn Off the Engine After a Jump Start?
2 Answers
After jump-starting the car, you can turn off the engine after about half an hour. Steps for jump-starting a car: Take out one cable; first connect one end to the positive terminal of the rescue vehicle's battery, then connect the other end to the positive terminal of the rescued vehicle's battery. Take out another cable, first connect one end to the negative terminal of the rescue vehicle's battery, then connect the other end to a metal part of the rescued vehicle's engine. Start the rescue vehicle; then start the rescued vehicle following the normal procedure. Quality of jumper cables: When purchasing jumper cables, choose genuine, quality-assured ones. Opt for thicker cables with an outer diameter of at least 10mm and a length of about 3 meters. Avoid cheap, low-quality cables priced at a few dozen dollars, as they may not withstand high starting currents and could burn out.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I never turn off the engine immediately after a jump-start. I always let it run for at least 20 minutes before shutting it down. The reason is that a battery that's just been drained is like an empty sponge—it needs the engine to drive the alternator and slowly recharge it. If the time is too short and the charge is insufficient, you might face difficulty starting the car the next day, or even risk damaging the battery. In my old car, I used to monitor the voltage with a voltmeter and only turned off the engine when it stabilized above 13 volts for safety. Newer cars have automatic displays, so you can shut it off once it reaches around 80% charge. I remember one time I was in a hurry and only waited 10 minutes before turning off the engine, and the next morning, the car wouldn't start, causing delays and towing expenses. I recommend regularly checking your battery's health, such as using a multimeter to measure voltage, to reduce the need for jump-starts. Safety first—don't rush this step. Make sure the battery is sufficiently charged before moving on, and running the engine for 15-30 minutes is ideal.
