By: Otaiba Ahsan

For those who’ve been driving a gas-powered vehicle long enough, it’s likely they’ve either had to give someone a jump start or needed one themselves. After taking delivery of my Tesla, the idea of jump-starting never really crossed my mind. However, when the topic came up, I was curious to learn if electric vehicles (EVs) like Tesla are capable of jumping other cars. So, can you jump-start another car from a Tesla? Continue reading to find out.

Jump Starting

Here’s the TLDR, Tesla says in their Owner’s Manual you cannot use any of their Model’s to jump-start another vehicle. Doing so can result in damage. However, if your own Tesla’s low-voltage battery dies, then an external power source can be used to bring it back to life.

NOTE: The procedure for jump starting differs depending on whether the low-voltage battery is lead-acid or lithium-ion. This can easily be determined in your car by tapping Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information.

The instructions below, and from Tesla, assume you are using an external low-voltage power supply such as a portable jump starter. If you’re jump-starting your Tesla using another vehicle, then refer to that car’s manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid short circuits when jump-starting your Tesla, as connecting cables to the wrong jump posts and touching leads together can damage your vehicle.

Jump Starting the Low Voltage (Lead-Acid) Battery

To start, you’ll need to open the hood. If your car’s low-voltage battery is dead, then you’ll be unable to open it using the touchscreen, key fob or Tesla mobile app. Lucky for you, we’ve created a detailed guide on how to open the hood of your Tesla with no power. Once you’ve popped the hood, follow these steps:

1) Remove the maintenance panel by pulling it upwards to release the trim clips that hold it in place. See Tesla’s visual gif from the Owner’s Manual for reference. Next, remove the cabin intake trim panel by pulling it upwards to release the trim clips that hold it in place.

2) Connect the external low-voltage power supply’s red positive (+) cable to the red positive (+) terminal on the low-voltage battery for your car. Similarly, connect the black negative (-) cable to the black terminal on your vehicle’s battery.

NOTE: To avoid damaging your Tesla, do not allow the positive cable to contact other metal components such as the battery tie-down bracket.

3) Turn on the external power supply, and then touch the touchscreen to wake it up. It may take several minutes to receive enough power to accomplish this.

4) Once the external low-voltage power is no longer required, disconnect both cables from the terminals on the battery, beginning with the black negative (-) cable.

5) Reinstall the cabin intake trim panel by placing it back where it originally was and pressing it down until secure. Next, place the maintenance panel back in its original location and press down until secure. Lastly, close the hood.

Jump Starting the Low Voltage (Lithium-Ion) Battery

Pop open the hood using our previously mentioned guide, then follow these steps:

1) Remove the maintenance panel by pulling it upwards to release the trim clips that hold it in place. See Tesla’s visual gif from the Owner’s Manual for reference.

2) Remove the red cover and connect the external low-voltage power supply’s red positive (+) cable to the red positive (+) jump post. Next, connect the black negative (-) cable to the bolt located between the brake fluid reservoir and the front trunk. The bolt is used as a grounding location for external support, see Tesla’s visual for reference.

NOTE: To avoid damaging your Tesla, do not allow the positive cable to contact other metal components.

3) Turn on the external power supply for 20 seconds only, then switch off or disconnect. Next, open the driver door and wait two minutes, then ensure the vehicle is able to shift into Drive.

WARNING: If you leave the power supply on for longer than 20 seconds, the low-voltage battery may not self-recover. This means that your Tesla may not be able to shift into Drive. If this happens, disconnect everything and follow steps 1 to 3 again.

4) Place the maintenance panel back in its original location and press down until secure. Lastly, close the hood.

The Bottom Line

Can you jump-start another car from a Tesla? Tesla states in their Owner’s Manual that you cannot use any of their Model’s to jump-start another vehicle, as it can result in damage to your car. However, if your car’s low-voltage battery is dead, you can follow the steps above to bring it back to life depending on which battery your vehicle is equipped with.