How to Jump-Start a Car

If your car won’t start, there’s a good chance you need to jump-start your car battery. Before you call a jump-start car service, you may want to try doing it on your own. This often leads to the question, “What is the proper way to jump-start a car?” Keep reading to learn how to properly jump-start a car with Jim Hudson Toyota. If your car won’t jump-start, bring it to our service center near Lexington to have it inspected by a professional.

How to Properly Jump-Start a Car

The proper way to jump-start a car requires a set of jumper cables and another vehicle. If these aren’t available to you, you can call a jump-start car service like AAA. Once you have what you need, you should take the following steps:

1. Park the car containing the good battery so that it is facing the other vehicle. Ensure the vehicle is turned off and both parking brakes are engaged.
2. Locate both batteries beneath each car hood. To access the battery terminals, you may need to take off a plastic hood.
3. Identify the positive and negative terminals and ensure 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, connect the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
6. Place the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery. 
7. Connect the final clamp to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. Once you’ve made sure everything is securely fastened on both vehicles, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, followed by the one with the dead battery.
9. After successfully jump-starting the dead vehicle, 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 a minimum of 10 minutes to make sure that the weak battery doesn’t immediately die again. You can consult your owner’s manual for more detailed information on recommended times. 

More Battery Tips and Tricks

If you find that your car won’t jump-start even after consulting a jump-start car service, you may need a battery replacement. To troubleshoot the issue, you can follow these steps:

1. If you hear a clicking sound while trying to start your car, there may be something wrong with your starter. Schedule service at Jim Hudson Toyota near Columbia to have it replaced.
2. If the engine fails to turn over but your electrical systems of the car turn on, there may be a problem with your ignition switch, starter, battery, or fuse. Bring your vehicle to a service center so the service experts can identify the problem.
3. After jump-starting your car, keep your vehicle running to allow the battery to fully recharge.

Rely on Jim Hudson Toyota for Your Service Needs

If you have additional questions on how to jump-start a car or need help determining whether your vehicle needs a jump start, car battery replacement, or something else, Jim Hudson Toyota is here to help. Contact us today and our service experts will be happy to answer any questions you have, or you can use our schedule service tool to arrange a time to visit our dealership that’s just a short drive from Chapin!