How to Jump Start a Car

Jump starting a car battery is a routine fix that every driver should know. What’s the proper way to go about it? This handy guide from Carolina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram shows Camden area drivers how to properly jump start a car, while our friendly service staff wait to handle a replacement if your battery is nearing the end of its life. Learn more here!

The Proper Way to Jump Start a Car

Another vehicle that turns over and a set of jumper cables are all you’ll need to get your battery charged again, if it’s still working. You can also call a jump start car service like AAA. Once you’re ready, take these steps:

• Park the car with the good battery facing the other vehicle, and turn it off. Engage parking brakes on both cars.
• Open both hoods, find the batteries, and remove the plastic hoods to expose the battery terminals.
• Identify the positive and negative terminals and make sure they’re clean and free of any corrosion.
• Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
• Uncoiling the battery cable, hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the charged battery.
• Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery.
• Connect the final clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the operating car’s frame.
• Once everything is hooked up securely, start the good vehicle’s engine first, then the one with the dead battery.
• Once the dead vehicle has been jump-started, carefully remove the jumper cables in reverse order from the instructions above, then shut off the car that was used to help jump-start the dead car.
• 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

If your car won’t jump start, you may need a battery replacement, or it may be a sign of a more serious problem. Take these steps to troubleshoot the issue:

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

Turn to Carolina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for Service

Whether you need a routine oil change or a new battery installed, our qualified service technicians can help – even with your new Renegade interior features. You can even check out service features like how to check coolant levels. We’re located in Elizabeth City, just a short drive from Hertford and Edenton, so stop by or contact us with any questions!