Julia

When your vehicle won’t turn over and you suspect your car battery is dead, you’re not always in a location where a car battery replacement is easy to be had. That’s why it’s so important to know how to jump-start your car safely.

Preparing for the Jump

Check the vehicle’s owner’s manual to see if there are any directions for jump-starting your car that are specific to your vehicle; if not, here are the basic directions you can follow:

  • Park both cars close enough for the jumper cables to reach but not so close that the cars are touching.
  • Visually identify the batteries and terminals (red/black or +/-) on both cars. This is where the rag comes in; if necessary, you may need to clean off the terminals to tell which is positive and which is negative.

    • Jump-Start Your Car

    Unfold your jumper cables and make sure none of the clamps are touching. Grab the flashlight if you need it to make sure you’re connecting the clamps where they belong.

  • Connect one red positive clamp to the positive terminal on the dead battery. Connect the other red positive clamp to the positive terminal on the live battery.
  • Connect one black negative clamp to the negative terminal on the live battery. Connect the other black negative clamp to the engine block, nut, bolt or other piece of nearby metal, not the dead battery.
  • Ask the other driver to start their car and let it run for a couple of minutes.
  • Start your car. If the engine doesn’t turn over right away, give the jumper cables another minute or two to work.

    • After the Jump

    Once the dead car battery has been started, take off the black clamps first. Be sure to avoid letting them touch. Then take off the red clamps; again, no touching. Drive the affected car for a while so the alternator has a chance to recharge the battery. If the car won’t stay on, it may be a problem with the alternator and not the battery, and you may need to have the car towed to a service station for repair.

    Contact SJ Tire Co Today

    When you’re thinking, I need a car battery replacement near me, consider contacting SJ Tire Co. Their technicians provide professional service that’s fast and efficient. Get your battery checked so you can avoid needing to jump-start your car.

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