A dead battery is the most common reason a car won’t start. Don’t try and be a hero until you’ve read this article first. I will familiarise you with some tips ‘n tricks to make your jump start a great success!
Is it Possible?
Yes, you can jump-start a dead Mitsubishi PHEV. Despite being a plugin hybrid, the fundamentals of a conventional ICE vehicle are all still present. There are a few things to consider:
- Suitable jump leads
- Find the positive terminal for both vehicles (this might not be the battery)
- Safely connect and disconnect the jump leads
- Ensure the drive battery’s plugin charge lead is disconnected
Can I use a Outlander PHEV to Jump Start another Vehicle?
No! Unfortunately, whilst it is possible to jump start an Outlander, you shouldn’t use an Outlander to rescue a stranded vehicle with a flat battery. The owners manual warns against using an Outlander to jump a stranded vehicle.
The 12-volt system on a conventional non-hybrid vehicle is responsible for delivering high current loads to crank the engine. This is not the case for the Outlander PHEV.
On an Outlander PHEV the 12v system only has to operate a relay that effectively connects the engine to the drive (traction) battery. Once this 12v system has enabled the high voltage system its job is done. It’s down to the high-voltage battery to start the Outlander hybrid engine.
Where is the Outlander Battery Located?
There are two batteries found in any hybrid vehicle.
- High voltage traction battery (300v powers the drive motors and actually starts the engine)
- Low voltage conventional auxiliary battery (12v powers the radio, opens/closes big relays etc.)
For a jump start we need a feed from the traditional 12 volt battery. Mitsubishi have nestled the Outlander’s battery in the boot:
However, as you can see in the image above, the positive battery terminal is not easily accessible. You have to remove the plastic tray to get to both terminal posts.
For an Outlander PHEV, it is much easier to perform a jump start using the terminal under the bonnet! The alternative would be to remove the plastic tray in the boot, DON’T DO THIS UNLESS YOU LIKE EXTRA WORK!
When setting up for a jump start, give consideration to the location of the battery positive in your rescue vehicle and arrange both vehicles such that the leads will easily reach!
Struggling to find the positive terminal?
Accessing the battery in an Outlander is a pain, use the charging terminal instead, check out this brief video I filmed:
Jump Start Guide
A set of jump leads is an essential item for the task. Pick up a set here for a great price.
- Park your rescue vehicle next to the Outlander, with easy access to the positive terminals on both vehicles
- Switch off the ignition for both vehicles, apply handbrakes
- Connect the red cable to the Outlander’s positive terminal in the fuse box under the bonnet, (see video above, to find the terminal)
- Connect the other end of the red cable to the rescue vehicle’s positive terminal
- Connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the rescue vehicle’s battery.
- Connect the other end of the black cable to a shiny metal surface on the Outlander, eg. suspension bolt, generator block, engine hooks etc.
- Wait a few seconds, then crank the rescue vehicle to keep the engine on – don’t get your clothes hair etc. caught on rotating belts!
- Attempt to power on the Outlander – if you are in luck you will get the green ‘ready’ light.
- I would advise switching off the rescue vehicle and then proceed to remove the cables in reverse order, i.e. steps 6,5,4,3.
Considerations
Short jump leads should be preferred. Whilst longer leads might be more convenient, they suffer more of a voltage drop. These 3m jump leads are an excellent combination of value for money and performance.
Lead acid batteries can explode. They can release hydrogen gas which is flammable. Fortunately, the Outlander battery is hidden well out of the way in the boot. Any sparks created during connection are now well away from the battery, minimising the chance of an explosion.
Don’t ever jump-start whilst your Outlander’s drive battery is being charged, this could damage the charging equipment or your Outlander.
FAQs
Can I Jump Start in the Rain?
Yes you can, it is completely safe to jump start in the rain. The 12v battery has a sufficiently low voltage that it finds it impossible to cause you any kind of electrical shock.
Do you Have to Use the Battery Terminals?
It is advisable that the rescue vehicle use both battery terminals to jump-start your Outlander. It is best practice to use the charging post under the bonnet for positive and shiny metal for black ground to jump-start the Outlander.
Will a Banana Jump Start a Car
No, OF COURSE IT CAN’T, this is just internet clickbait!
You can start a car with AA batteries though, electroBOOM did it!
There are now products on the market that will essentially facilitate what you see in the video above. If you want to avoid being stranded and not rely upon a second vehicle for a jump start, you could always carry a mini jump pack, like this one.
What Voltage for Jump Start
The 12 volt system is used for a jump start. However, when the alternator is charging the battery, (when the engine is running), expect the voltage to be higher, ~14.5 volts.
What’s a Bump Start?
A bump start is when someone pushes you along and engages the clutch whilst in gear to start the engine. This will allow the wheels to turn the engine over instead of the starter motor.
The energy of someone pushing the car is transferred into the rotation of the engine. Pushing energy replaces the electrical energy required from the battery to start the engine using the starter motor. This technique is impossible with an automatic transmission.
Do not pull or push the Outlander to try and start it, always use the jump start procedure instead. The complexities of the hybrid drivetrain render this technique impossible.
Conclusion
Jump starting a car is essentially no different when you have a plugin hybrid such as the Mitsubishi Outlander. Reading through this article should give you the tools and confidence to perform a jump start safely and effectively.
