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Even though you don’t like to think about it, there’s a good possibility that you’ll have to know how to jump-start a car at some point in your life. Whether you leave your lights on or you need a new car battery, nearly every driver will experience a dead battery that they’ll need to jump start to get their car running. Here’s how to safely jump-start a vehicle.
Step 1: Park the Running Car Near the Non-Running Car
Your jumper cables are pretty long, but you should still try to park the running car as close as possible to the non-running car when you’re going to jump-start your vehicle. Park them nose-to-nose so that the batteries are within an arm’s length distance from each other. Make sure, though, that the two cars are not touching bumpers or any other part, and once parked, turn both vehicles completely off for safety reasons.
Step 2: Prepare the Cars
Open the hoods of both cars and remove any caps covering the terminals of both batteries. Remember that neither car should be running at this time, and the keys should be in the “off” position. Untangle the jumper cables to ensure they’re not crossing each other at any point. keep the metal clamps on each end away from each other, and be sure not to let them drop into any puddles on the ground or other wet areas.
Step 3: Attach the Jumper Cable Clamps to the Batteries
This is the critical part of the process. Attach the red clamp of one end of the jumper cables to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Repeat that process with the red clamp at the other end of the jumper cables by attaching it to the positive terminal of the good battery. Attach the black clamp to the negative terminal of the good battery. Attach the other black clamp to an unpainted metal screw of the dead car.
Step 4: Start the Cars
Start the car with the working battery first. Then, while that car is still running, start the car with the dead battery. It may take a couple of seconds to get enough charge through the battery to start the dead car, but if the battery is the problem, the vehicle will eventually start.
Step 5: Remove the Cables
Remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that you attached them. Start by removing the black clamp attached to the unpainted screw, then the black clamp on the good battery. Next, remove the red clamp on the good battery. Finally, remove the red clamp on the bad battery. Take care to never touch any of the clamps together during this entire process.
Step 6: Keep Your Car Running
Keep your car running for at least 15 minutes to allow the battery to fully charge. If your battery doesn’t stay running, you could have an alternator problem, which should be checked out as soon as possible.
Need a New Car Battery?
Jump-starting your car is not a difficult process, but you do need to take proper safety precautions to make sure you don’t create a dangerous situation. Once your battery has been revived, get it checked at an authorized service center to make sure it’s still in good condition. You might need a new one.
Bring your car by Rochester Ford and we’ll test your battery and let you know if it needs to be replaced.
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