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 Ford Kuga 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 plug-in charge lead is disconnected
Can I use a Ford Kuga PHEV to Jump Start another Vehicle?
Yes! Some manufactures prohibit using a PHEV to jump other vehicles, this is not the case for the Kuga PHEV. The owner’s manual does not have any warnings about using your Kuga to jump start other vehicles.
Where is the Kuga PHEV Battery Located?
There are two batteries found in any hybrid vehicle.
- High voltage traction battery (typically ~300v powers the drive motors)
- Low voltage conventional battery (12v powers the radio, opens/closes big relays etc.)
For a jump start we need to feed the traditional 12 volt battery. Ford have nestled the Kuga battery in the boot.
For a Kuga PHEV, it is much easier to perform a jump start using the terminal under the bonnet! The alternative is not reccommended and would require access from 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 a Ford Kuga is a pain, use the easily accessible charging terminals under the hood:
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 stranded vehicle, 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 dead vehicle’s positive terminal, I’m assuming this is the Ford Kuga PHEV.
- 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 the chassis ground terminal on the Kuga PHEV. Again, see image above.
- 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 Kuga- if you are in luck you will get the green ‘ready’ light. Leave like this for a few minutes, for some charging to take effect.
- 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 Kuga 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 Kuga’s drive battery is being charged, this could damage the charging equipment or your Ford.
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?
When jump starting a Ford Kuga PHEV, use the terminals under the hood. If the Kuga is the rescue vehicle, again you should use the terminals found under the hood.
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 Ford Kuga PHEV to try and start it, always use the jump start procedure instead. The complexities of the hybrid drivetrain render this technique impossible. And can damage the automatic transmission
Conclusion
Jump starting a car is essentially no different when you have a plugin hybrid such as the Ford Kuga PHEV. Reading through this article should give you the tools and confidence to perform a jump start safely and effectively.
