You don’t want to call roadside assistance every time your car won’t start. Instead, you’d likely prefer to jumpstart your car and go about your day. While it might sound challenging, jumpstarting a car is quite easy. Let’s go over the steps you need to take to jumpstart your car efficiently.
Get Some Jumper Cables
You might already have jumper cables. If so, you can use them. However, if you need new ones, choose cables that are a minimum of 20 feet long. Also, they should be 4–6-gauge cables. Cables this size are easy to use and provide good connections.
Position and Prepare the Vehicles
You’ll need to take some power from another vehicle to jumpstart your car. Thus, park a booster car with a working battery next to the vehicle with the dead battery and turn both vehicles off. Then pop the hood on both cars and locate the battery. You’ll likely see a plastic hood on top of the battery posts or the battery. Determine what tools you need and then use them to remove the hood so you can access the battery.
Connect the Cables
The red and black clamps on the cables shouldn’t touch when you’re handling them, so take special care. It’s easier to keep the clamps from touching if you have someone to help. You can take one end of the cables, and the other person will take the other end.
Then brush off the battery posts to ensure a solid connection. Once clean, look at the battery posts to find the positive and negative signs so you’ll know where to attach the cables.
You’ll start with the car with the dead battery. Put the cable’s red clamp on the positive terminal. Then repeat this step on the car with the working battery.
Next, it’s time to connect the black cables. This time, start with the booster car. Connect the black clamp to the negative terminal. Then find an unpainted metal surface on the car with the dead battery, such as the car’s frame or an engine bolt. Attach the remaining clamp to it.
Start the Cars
Once the cables are ready, start the booster car. After it runs for a bit, try starting the other vehicle. You might notice that interior lights come on or the car makes a clicking sound, but it won’t start. This indicates another issue. However, if it does start, it’s likely a problem with the battery, although it could be the alternator.
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Detach the Cables and Recharge the Battery
You need to keep your car running while detaching the cables. Remember to prevent the clamps from touching.
Then drive your car for around 30 minutes to get the battery time to recharge. If it starts back up after you turn it off, it’s the battery. However, if it doesn’t, you probably have an issue with the alternator.
If you find yourself having to jumpstart your car constantly, Berglund Automotive in Roanoke, Virginia, is here to help. First, you can schedule a service appointment online. Then we will inspect your vehicle to determine the problem.
If you find out that your car has lots of issues, we can also help you find a new ride. We carry the biggest manufacturers, including Chevrolet, Ford, Buick, Jeep, Mazda, and GMC. With so many options, you can find the ideal car, truck, SUV, or minivan for your needs.
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