How to Jump-Start a Car Battery

Returning to your car in Manteca and discovering that it won’t start is incredibly frustrating. While you may have roadside assistance coverage, if you’re in a hurry and don’t want to wait you can save time when you know how to jump-start a car battery. The certified technicians at Central Valley Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram have made a guide to show you how easy it is to learn how to jump-start a car battery. Contact us if you have any questions. 

The Proper Way to Jump-Start a Car Battery

It’s a smart idea to keep a set of jumper cables in your car so you don’t have to find a pair when you need to jump-start your car battery. All you need then is a good samaritan with a running car and a few minutes to be up and running in Turlock in no time.

1. Park the car with the good battery so that it’s in reach of the dead battery. Turn off both vehicles and engage the parking brakes. 
2. Open both hoods and find the batteries. You might need to remove a plastic hood to reach the battery terminals. 
3. Identify which battery terminals are positive and negative, and make sure they’re free of corrosion.
4. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
6. Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery. 
7. Connect the last clamp to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. Start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.
9. When the dead battery is jump-started, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that you put them on, then turn off the car that was used to jump-start the dead car.
10. Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 minutes to ensure that the weak battery doesn’t die again right away. Your owner’s manual can tell you more about what your specific car needs to keep its charge.

What if Your Car Won’t Jump Start?

If your car won’t jump start it’s a sign that there’s a problem other than a dead battery. You might need a new battery, or other repairs such as: 

• Starter: If you try to start the car but only hear a clicking sound, it’s likely a bad starter. Schedule service with Central Valley Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram for a replacement. 
• Ignition, battery, starter, or fuse: If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine fails to turn over, these are likely the source of the problem. Our service center can do the diagnostics to narrow it down.
• Lack of charge: Be sure to keep your vehicle running for a while after getting the jump so it has time to get a full charge.

Get Service Tips From Central Valley Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

The certified technicians at Central Valley Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram are here to help, whether you bring your car in for service or you’d like to learn more about DIY auto maintenance. Read out service tips and tricks to find out more about inexpensive and easy car care.