Question

How long should you leave the car running after a jump start? 

When you jump-start a battery, it's best to drive the car around or let it idle for at least 30 minutes so that the battery can charge.  

The battery is an important component of a car. It is also a component that is most susceptible to failure. When that happens, you can charge the battery by jump starting the car; here’s how you do it.  

1. Line up both vehicles side-by-side so that the jumper cables can connect.  
2. Locate the battery terminals in your car. Connect the red cable to the positive terminal and the black cable to the negative terminal.
3. Connect the other ends of the red and black cables to the respective terminals of the vehicle you are using to jump start.
4. Ensure the cables aren’t touching any movable parts of the engine and try to start the car.  
5. If your engine doesn’t fire immediately, keep the cables connected while letting the other vehicle idle for a while. Try again after 10 minutes. 

Once you jump-start your car, the next step is the most crucial. You should leave your car running for at least 30 minutes so that the battery gets charged. The car’s battery is charged by an alternator connected to the engine’s crankshaft with a belt. This alternator creates an electrical current, which gives power to all the other car components that operate on electricity. As a result, the battery starts charging. The engine needs to run for a while because only then will it turn the belt, and the alternator will charge various vehicle components.