How to Jump Start a Car

If your car won’t start, don’t panic. It’s likely that all you need to get back on Matthews’s roads is a quick jump start. You could call a jump start car service like AAA, but it’s often easier and faster to jump start the vehicle yourself. We here at Hendrick Chevrolet Monroe have written this guide so you can properly jump start your car like a professional.

The Proper Way to Jump Start a Car

It’s inconvenient for someone in Waxhaw to wait around for a jump start car service to arrive. The only things you really need are a set of jumper cables and another vehicle with a fully charged battery. Ask a friend or a helpful stranger for a hand, and jump start the car yourself. Here’s how to properly jump start a car:

1. Park the car with the good battery facing the car with the dead battery. Turn off the engine and make sure that the parking brakes on both vehicles are engaged.
2. Open the hoods of both cars and find the batteries. There may be plastic coverings over the battery terminals that you will need to remove.
3. Locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals, and check them to make sure that they are clean and free of any corrosion.
4. Attach one red clamp of the jumper cables to the positive (+) post on the dead battery.
5. Attach the other red clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the battery with the charge.
6. Connect one black clamp to the negative (-) post on the good battery.
7. Attach the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the frame of the car with the dead battery.
8. Check to confirm that the clamps are secure, and start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery. Then, start the one with the dead battery.
9. Once the car has been jump-started, carefully remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were placed on.
10. Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the battery is fully recharged. Your owner’s manual may have more information on recommended recharging times.

My Car Won’t Jump Start, Now What?

Some of you may be saying, “I did all that, but still, my car won’t jump start.” Well, that could be a different issue. When you can’t successfully jump start a car battery, there could be an issue with the electrical system, or the battery may need to be replaced, which could be as easy as ordering one from our parts center. Thankfully, there is also some troubleshooting you can try:

• Do you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key? Your starter may not be working. Schedule a service appointment at Hendrick Chevrolet Monroe to have our service experts check your vehicle’s starter and install a new one if needed.
• Do the electrical systems of the car come on when you turn the key, but the engine won’t turn over? This could be a sign of a problem with the ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse. Arrange to have the vehicle towed to our Service Center, where our skilled technicians can diagnose the problem.
• One important thing to remember is that once you have successfully jump-started your car, you need to keep it running for 10 to 15 minutes so the battery can fully recharge. If you’ve jump started the car, turned it off, and now it won’t start, it may be that the battery didn’t fully recharge.

Hendrick Chevrolet Monroe’s Service Experts are Here to Help

Hendrick Chevrolet Monroe’s service experts are here to help with all your vehicle’s maintenance and repair needs. Whether your car just won’t start, or you’re due for your next scheduled service, we’ll have you safely back on the roads of Weddington as soon as possible. Check out our service specials to see what great deals we have, and come by today!