THE "RIGHT" WAY TO JUMP START A CAR BATTERY

 

Here are some tips for jump-starting your vehicle’s dead battery we summarize from an article posted by Sarah Brennan for MotorBiscuit on December 31, 2020. To see the entire article, go to:  https://www.motorbiscuit.com/the-right-way-to-jump-start-a-car-if-it-has-a-dead-battery/. There are helpful videos on that page you may wish to also view.  

Jump-starting a car with a dead battery isn’t all that difficult. Let’s go through some of the key steps you need to follow to do it correctly:

FIND OUT IF YOUR CAR BATTERY IS ACTUALLY DEAD

According to Auto Zone, there are a couple of ways to determine whether or not your car’s battery is dead. 

• If your vehicle has had trouble starting over the last few days and now isn’t starting altogether? Then your car’s battery may be dead.
• If you turn your ignition over, (push the start button or turn the key in the ignition), and find that your car’s headlights, radio, and windshield wipers don’t work your car’s battery could be dead.

TOOLS YOU NEED TO JUMP-START A CAR

Firestone recommends having the following items to jump-start your car safely:

• A set of jumper cables and a rag or paper towel: Make sure you are sure that the jumper cables you will be using are in safe, working condition.
•  Another car with a working battery: According to AAA, it’s best to make sure that the other car’s battery matches your car’s battery voltage.  “Due to the complexity of the electrical system in vehicles, appropriate tools and procedures are crucial to prevent hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars in repairs,” says Ricky Hendan, senior tech training and research analyst at AAA.

STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE TO JUMP-START A CAR WITH A DEAD BATTERY

Jump-starting a car isn’t hard, but it’s important that you take the proper steps needed to jump-starting a battery so you can prevent unnecessary damage to your vehicle.

• Park the car you are using to jump-start your car next to but not touching your car. Make sure the ignition is turned off on both vehicles. 
• Next, attach one of the red cables to the positive terminal on the dead battery.  The positive terminal is the one that is marked “POS” or “+.” 
• Then attach the other red cable to the positive terminal in the other vehicle, the one you’re using to jump-start your car. 
• Then attach one of the black cables to the negative terminal on the other car’s battery. It should be marked “NEG” or “-.”
• Finally, attach the last black cable clip to an unpainted metal surface under your car’s hood. Make sure it’s far from your vehicle’s battery. 
• This is the point where Firestone says you can start the vehicle with the working battery and let it run for a few minutes so that your car’s battery can charge.
• Wait a few minutes before you try starting your vehicle. 
• If your vehicle doesn’t start after trying to turn it over a couple of times, your battery may need to be charged more, so wait a few minutes more and try again.
• If your car still hasn’t started, it is probably time to give AAA or another roadside assistance service a call. 
• If your vehicle does start, you can remove the jumper cables. Make sure you do this in the reverse order that you put them on, and drive your car or keep the motor running for at least 15-30 minutes longer to make sure your battery continues to charge so you don’t experience another dead battery situation.

HOW TO AVOID A DEAD BATTERY IN THE FUTURE

Consumer Reports has some tips for preventing a dead car battery in the future. First, you should drive your car regularly. During these unprecedented times where many of us are sheltering in place for extended periods of time, it’s easy to forget to do this. Try to take your car out at least once a month for a short drive to keep your battery from going dead. Driving in your own car is a COVID-safe activity and may be a welcome break from staying at home.

Consumer Reports also suggests that you remember to service and replace your car’s battery regularly. It’s wise to have your car’s battery load tested on an annually and replace it whenever necessary. Also, if you recently experienced a dead battery situation, it is also wise to get your battery load tested. If you get your vehicle serviced at Serramonte Ford, you will automatically get your battery checked. Vehicle maintenance is considered an essential service, so our service department is open during regular hours, Monday through Saturday. 

It may be a good idea to make an appointment and have your vehicle serviced now when you may not need your vehicle as much, so you won’t be inconvenienced once you need to drive more in the future. Also, you will feel safer knowing your vehicle is in top condition should you need it in an emergency.

If you would like an appointment with our Service Department, please call 650.763.2499, extension 1.

Please note: Advice shared in this blog post is presented as a posting of information readily available through internet searches and only as a convenience to our audience. Following the advice in this post is up to the sole discretion of the reader and does not imply any warranty or protection from Castro Car Guy with regard to vehicle damage or other potential negative circumstances.