How to Jump Start a Car

Many drivers in Belleair and St. Petersburg have dealt with the misfortune of a dead battery on a busy day. While the option to call a jump-start car service is always there for you, learning how to jump-start a car battery yourself can be a lifesaver in an emergency. Luckily, the team at Lexus of Clearwater is here to teach you the proper way to jump-start a car. Stay safe and smart on the roads with tips from our experts, and be sure to reach out if you have any car concerns along the way!

The Proper Way to Jump-Start a Car Battery

Learning how to properly jump-start a car is a skill that anyone can master, and it can come in handy on the Palm Harbor roads. So, what do you need to jump-start a car battery? All you need is a set of jumper cables and a helper with a working vehicle. If you don’t feel comfortable flagging down a fellow driver, we recommend calling a jump-start car service instead. But otherwise, follow these steps to get your car up and running instead.

1. Park the two cars with hoods facing each other. This gives the easiest access to both batteries. Turn off the cars and engage the parking brake.
2. Pop the hood and find the batteries. Some cars have a plastic hood covering the battery unit, and it must be removed before you can jump-start the car battery.
3. Identify the positive and negative battery terminals, and make sure they are clean and free of debris.
4. Separate the red and black ends of your jumper cables. The two ends should not touch, or you might cause sparks.
5. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery,
6. Connect the other red clamp to the positive post of the working battery.
7. Connect the black clamp to the negative post of the working battery.
8. Connect the other black clamp to any unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame that is grounded.
9. After everything is connected properly, ask your helper to start their vehicle.
10. Let the vehicle run for a few minutes, and then try to start your engine. If your car won’t jump start, wait a few minutes and try again.
11. Once your car is up and running, let it continue to run for at least 10 minutes. This gives the battery a chance to charge.
12. Remove the jumper cables in the opposite order as described above, and be sure to thank your helper!

While jump-starting the battery is a quick fix, it’s important to find the underlying cause of the battery issues. We recommend scheduling a service for a battery check or a replacement.

Additional Car Battery Tips & Tricks

Now you know how to properly jump-start a car, but what if your car won’t jump-start? The culprit could be any number of things, and our certified technicians can help narrow down the cause. But in the meantime, here are some of the most common reasons why a car won’t jump-start:  

1. Do you hear a clicking sound when you try to start the car? Your issue may be the starter, rather than the battery. 
2. Are your electrical systems turning on without the engine? Instead of the battery, our techs will probably look at the ignition switch or starter. Your problem could even be as simple as a worn fuse.
3. Did your battery die immediately after a successful jump start? A good battery will be able to hold a charge to get you back home safely. However, an older or weaker battery might not be able to power through – even after a successful jump. It might need to be replaced instead.

Get More Car Care Tips at Lexus of Clearwater

You’ve read all about the proper way to jump-start a car, so what else would you like to know? Lexus of Clearwater is here to help with all of your car care needs, so don’t hesitate to contact us for more information! You can also check out our latest battery service offers in Clearwater.