How to Jump-Start a Car

If you are unable to start your vehicle on your Hudson driveway or while you are heading home from the office in Merrimack, you likely need a jump-start, car battery service, or something similar. If this is the case, you may be wondering how to properly jump-start a car. Doing so could save you the hassle and cost of calling a jump-start car service. Tulley Mazda explains the process in this guide below. 

The Proper Way to Jump-Start a Car

Once you have found another driver willing to assist you as well as a set of jumper cables, you can get started:

1. The car with the working battery should park facing the car with the dead battery. Turn off the engine in the assisting vehicle. Engage the parking brakes on both cars.
2. Locate the batteries under the hoods of each car. Some vehicles require you to remove a plastic hood to reach the battery terminals.
3. Identify the positive and negative terminals. It is important that the battery terminals are clean and corrosion-free.
4. Attach the red clamp to the positive post on the battery that needs to be recharged.
5. Attach 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 working battery. 
7. Attach the final clamp to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. Make sure that everything is secure and in place before starting the engine of the vehicle with the working battery. Follow this by starting the vehicle with the dead battery.
9. Once the dead vehicle has been jump-started, remove the jumper cables using caution in the reverse order that they were attached. Turn off the car that provided the assistance.
10. Keep the engine running on the vehicle that received the jump-start for at least 10 minutes to ensure it has enough time to recharge.

Troubleshooting Tips

If your car won’t jump-start, it could be a sign of a more significant issue or that your battery needs to be replaced. 

1. If you try and start the car but all it does is make a clicking sound, it could be due to a malfunctioning starter. You will need to make an appointment with a service center to solve the problem. 
2. What if the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine will not start? A number of issues could cause this to occur. Possible culprits include the ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse. Once again, it is a good idea to have your vehicle looked at by a professional.
3. Be sure to keep your vehicle running for a while after getting the jump. The battery needs time to fully recharge after the power has been depleted. 

Set Up a Service Appointment at Tulley Mazda

If your vehicle is in need of a new battery or if another issue is to blame, you can trust that your vehicle will be in excellent hands when you bring it to the service center at Tulley Mazda. Contact us today for more information.