A dead battery can be a major inconvenience! Thankfully, your friends are here to help! The jump-starting process is easier than you know! Here is a quick guide to jumping a car battery:
Jumping a Dead Car Battery
If your battery is dead, all you need to get it started is another car to jump your battery and the cables needed to connect them. It is best to always keep a pair of cables in your vehicle in case you or someone else needs a jump. Once you are ready to go with both of these, here is how to jump your car:
1. Move the engines together!
First, bring the working car engine close to your own. Parked either parallel or facing your car is fine, but ideally, the two engines should be within two feet of one another.
2. Shut the power off
3. Connect Positive to Positive
Start by connecting the positive (often red) clamps of the jumper cables to the positive terminals of your battery. These are often marked, but they can be hard to see. Be sure to look closely to ensure that you are connecting to the right portion of the battery.
4. Connect Negative to Negative
Connect the negative (often black) clamps of the jumper cable to the negative terminal of the live battery. In your car, stick the negative terminal to an unpainted metal surface.
5. Safety First
Remember, when connecting the positive cables to the batteries, you should always start by connecting the dead battery first. If you feed energy into the cables before they are connected to your battery, you can cause a safety hazard. If you feel unsure or unsafe at any point, it is important to call for professional help instead of risking your safety.
6. Start the Working Car:
Start the working vehicle. You can give the engine some gas and then leave it running for a couple of minutes while it charges up your battery.
7. Start your Car:
Start your vehicle while it is still connected. If it doesn’t start right away, give it another minute and then try again.
8. Disconnect the Cables:
Carefully disconnect the cables in the order reverse from their placement in the vehicles. Disconnect the negative cable from your car, then the negative cable from the other car, then the positive cable from your car, and, finally, the positive cable from the other car.
My Car Still Won’t Start After a Jump
If you find that your car still isn’t starting, there may be an issue beyond a dead battery. Here is a closer look at how your battery, alternator, and starter work together. Bring your vehicle in for professional help. Over here at Hubbell Auto Repair, we have everything you need to get your car up and running. You can visit us online at https://www.hubbellsautorepair.com/ or call us at (319) 377-6614