How to Jump-Start a Car

If your car won’t start around Lincoln or if you’ve mistakenly left your car lights on for an extended period, then you’ll need to know how to jump-start a car. Whether you need a simple boost to get your car running again or so you can get to a place where you can replace your car battery service, our team is here to help. Learn more about how to jump start a car from the experts at Sid Dillon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and then rely on us for all of your automotive maintenance needs!

How to Jump a Car Battery

Before you get started, you’ll need a set of jumper cables as well as another vehicle to power up your car. If you’re far away from home with limited access to help from a friend or family, you can always call a jump-start car service like AAA. Here are the simple steps of how to jump start a car battery below:

1. Have the car with the good battery park facing the other vehicle, then make sure that the vehicle is turned off. Check to make sure both parking brakes are engaged.
2. Open both hoods and find the batteries. You may need to remove a plastic hood to expose the battery terminals.
3. Identify the positive and negative terminals. Make sure they’re clean and free of any corrosion.
4. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Uncoiling the battery cable, 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. For the final clamp, connect it to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. Once everything is hooked up securely, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.
9. Once the dead vehicle has been jump-started, carefully remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were placed on, then shut off the car that was used to help 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. Consult your owner’s manual for more info on recommended times.

More Car Battery Tips and Tricks

Even if you’ve mastered how to jump-start a car, you may also need to consider replacing the battery itself or addressing other important vehicle problems. Here’s some helpful tips to do so below:

1. If you try to start the car but only hear a clicking sound, the starter might not be functioning. Schedule service at Sid Dillon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram near Omaha for a replacement.
2. If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine fails to turn over, the problem could be a number of issues. The ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse could be the problem. It’s worth bringing your vehicle to a service center so they can diagnose the issue.
3. Be sure to keep your vehicle running for a while after getting the jump. That allows the battery to recharge fully after it’s been drained.

Turn to Sid Dillon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for All of Your Service Needs

Now that you know how to jump-start a car, you can easily get back on the road and keep moving around Seward. Find more helpful car service tips and tricks at Sid Dillon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and see how you can save on the essential service you need most with our rotating service specials and coupons. Contact us today for more information on how to jump a car battery and be sure to schedule your service appointment at our dealership here in Crete!