The Essential Guide to Jump Starting Your Vehicle
If you’re stuck with a dead battery, learning the basics of how to jump start a car can be a lifesaver. This is something that some car owners don’t know how to do, forcing them to call for help from their friends or relatives. It’s time consuming rather than doing the jumpstart yourself.
Acquire a Second Healthy Battery
The first thing you’ll need is another vehicle with a healthy battery. You should also have a set of quality jumper cables for a successful battery jumpstart. Without them, you won’t be able to transfer power from one car to the other. Once you’ve gathered all necessary items, position both cars so that their batteries are close but not touching. Ensure both vehicles are turned off before you proceed to connect the cables. Identify the positive and negative terminals on both batteries. The positive terminal has a red cap or a plus sign next to it, while the negative terminal has a black cap or a minus sign. Connect one end of the red cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Attach the other end of the red cable to the positive terminal of the functioning battery. Next, connect one end of the black cable to the negative terminal of the functioning battery. Finally, attach the remaining end of the black cable to an unpainted metal surface on your car (away from the battery). This step is crucial for reducing the risk of sparks near the battery.
Let Your Battery Charge
Now it’s time to start the working vehicle. Let it run for a few minutes to allow a charge to build up in the dead battery. After waiting, try starting your car. If it starts, let both vehicles run for a few more minutes. This ensures your car’s battery charges sufficiently to continue running once disconnected. If your car doesn’t start, wait a few minutes and do it again. Sometimes it may take a while for enough charge to build up. Once your car is running, carefully remove the cables in reverse order:
- Remove the black cable from your car first.
- Next, remove the black cable from the functioning car.
- Then, take off the red cable from your car.
- Lastly, remove the red cable from the functioning car.
Your Trusted Resource for How to Jump Start a Car
Learning how to jump start a car is essential for any driver. Should you ever need assistance or wish to consult a professional, you can always rely on my business based in Kingman, AZ. At AC 24hr Roadside, I aim to provide exceptional service and guidance. Reach out at (951) 575-8552 if you have any questions or need further help.