How to Jump-Start a Car Battery

If you’ve made it all the way to adulthood without knowing how to jump-start a car battery, don’t feel bad. We’re here to help. Knowing the proper way to jump-start a car is important, though, and our Service Department wants you to be prepared. So, we’ve put together an easy to follow guide on how to properly jump-start a car. That way you won’t have to worry about waiting along the side of the road in Granbury for a jump-start car service to show up. 

How to Properly Jump-Start a Car

A lot of our Burleson customers think they know the proper way to jump-start a car battery but are surprised to learn there may be a couple steps they weren’t aware of. Follow this guide on how to jump-start a car, so you won’t have to call a jump-start car service:

• The proper way to jump-start a car starts with parking the vehicle with the working battery close enough to the other car so that the jumper cables reach from one battery to another.
• Make sure both cars are turned off.
• Attach one red clamp to the positive (+) post on the dead battery, then attach the other red clamp positive post on the good battery.
• Attach one black clamp to the negative post (-) of the good battery.
• Attach the other black clamp to the metal frame of the car with the dead battery.
• Turn on the engine of the car with the good battery. Let it run for a few minutes.
• Try to start the other car.
• If your car won’t jump-start, let it charge for a few more minutes, then try again.
• After the car has started, remove the cables, starting with the black ones, then the red.
• Don’t turn the car off right away. Let it run for a while or take it for a short drive to allow the alternator to charge the battery some more.

What to Do if Your Car Won’t Jump-Start

So, you’ve followed our instructions on how to jump-start a car battery, and it still won’t start. You still may not need to call a jump-start car service. Try these things first if your car won’t jump-start:

• Make sure the jumper cables aren’t loose.
• Thoroughly clean the battery posts to make sure they aren’t corroded.
• Do you hear a clicking noise when you try to start the car? The starter might be broken, meaning the car will need to be serviced.
• The battery may have permanently died.

Trust the Battery Experts at Shottenkirk Toyota of Granbury

If your car still won’t start, schedule service with Shottenkirk Toyota of Granbury. We make it easy to get your car serviced. You can even schedule service online. We’re just a short drive away from Stephenville or Cleburne, so drop by or contact us today!