Dead batteries are one of the most common problems that drivers experience this time of year. When your battery suddenly gives out, your first instinct should be to try to jumpstart it. It is one of the easiest and useful ways to get your engine up and running. All you need is jumper cables, gloves, and another car with a functioning battery.
The process of jumpstarting a car involves connecting a dead battery to an external power source. In this case, the power source is from the other vehicle’s battery. And the energy exchange is made by connecting cables to the batteries’ connection points.
To jump-start a dead battery, follow these steps:
- Vehicle Positioning - Position both vehicles so they are close to each other. Remember that the cables need to reach. Both vehicles should be in neutral or in park with keys removed from the ignition.
- Attach the Jumper Cables in the Right Order - When you open the hood, locate the battery, specifically its positive and negative terminals. In some cars, they show the symbols (+/-). Other cars may make them red/black. Your jumper cables will have similar markings. First, you will want to attach the red/positive clamp to the dead battery’s positive and the other end of the red/positive clamp onto the working battery. Then you will attach the black/negative clamp on the working battery. Lastly, you will want to attach the last black/negative clamp onto a ground surface. It can be any unpainted metal surface away from the battery.
- Start the Working Car
- Start the Dead Vehicle - Let both vehicles run for at least 15-20 minutes to ensure the dead battery charges.
- Remove the Cables in Reverse Order
We hope these steps make your life a little easier following your battery incident. If jumpstarting your battery doesn’t work, it means you may have a bigger electrical problem or other mechanical problem on your hands. Please call for towing assistance and bring your vehicle to the trusted experts at River City Tire & Automotive. We can pinpoint all starting issues and make the necessary repairs to have you back on the road in no time.