How to Jumpstart Your Car

A dead or non-functional battery is a worry for any driver, and it can happen anytime without warning. The experience could be frustrating, expensive, and overwhelming, especially at an inconvenient location. Fortunately, jumpstarting your car can help you get back on the road and to a mechanic without having to call for a tow. Keep reading to learn how to properly jumpstart your car.

Tools Needed to Jumpstart a Car

1. A Functioning Car

Both owners of each car should be comfortable opening the hood of their vehicles and accessing the batteries and terminals.

2. Jumper Cables

Jumper cables are the most important tool for jumpstarting a car. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and store. They come in various lengths of 10-20 feet. Most auto mechanics recommend using jumper cables with a 4 gauge in thickness.

3. Portable Jump Starter

This tool helps streamline the jump starting process and immediately gives your dead battery the life it needs.

Steps to Jumpstart Your Car

1. Park Both Cars Close to Each Other

Park the functioning car close to the car with the dead battery, facing each other, preferably 18 inches apart. They should never touch each other. Set the parking brakes to prevent any movement.

2. Turn Off Both Cars

Turn off each car and remove the keys.

3. Connect the Jumper Cables

Locate both cars' batteries and their terminals. Identify the positive and negative sides of both batteries. Attach the red positive jumper cable clamps to the positive battery terminal of the dead battery and then the black negative jumper cables clamps to the negative battery terminal of the live battery.

4. Start the Working Car

Start the working car, and depending on the amount of time the battery has been dead or its age, you may let the car run for several seconds to charge up the dead battery.

5. Start the Car with the Dead Battery

Start the vehicle car with the dead battery. If it does not start right away, allow it to charge for a few more minutes and then try again.

6. Disconnect the Cables

Once both cars are running, carefully disconnect the cables starting with the negative clamps, then the positive. Do not let the wires touch each other while still connected to either vehicle.

Contact Our Auto Repair Team

Dealing with a car with a failing battery can be troublesome. Fortunately, by following the above steps, you can get your vehicle to an auto repair shop in a safe and timely manner. At Custom Complete Automotive, we will replace your vehicle’s battery as quickly as possible to get you back on the road in no time. To learn more about our electrical repair services, contact us today!