Jumpstarting your car can seem daunting and dangerous when you do it for the first time on your own. So, we’ve provided six simple steps to help you get your car started and on the road again safely. There are two different ways you can jumpstart your vehicle. One way is to have a friend or friendly stranger use their car to jumpstart your vehicle. The other way is to use a portable battery that you can store in your car whenever your battery dies. We will give you the means to jump-start your car both ways so you are prepared for anything!
What Can Cause a Dead Battery
You should only jumpstart your car when its battery is dead. There are multiple reasons why your battery might die. It could be the simple mistake of leaving your headlights on or your interior car lights on overnight, which will drain the battery as long as they are on. To prevent this, make a mental note to remember to turn all your lights off in your car after parking.
Your battery can also die from an old battery, a faulty alternator, or extreme temperatures. In these cases, however, jumpstarting your car is just a short-term fix. So, we recommend bringing your vehicle to our auto shop to prevent further damage.
How To Jumpstart Your Car With Another Vehicle
- Position the booster car in front of your car. A booster car is a vehicle whose battery is on and working. It is used to jump a car with a dead battery. Make sure both hoods of each vehicle face each other.
- Locate the battery terminals: There are positive and negative terminals. Positive terminals should be notated with a plus sign, and a negative terminal should be notated with a minus sign. Refer to your vehicle’s manual for the exact location.
- Get your jumper cables and connect: This is the most critical and potentially dangerous step if done incorrectly. First, attach a red clamp to the dead car battery’s positive terminal. Second, attach the other red clamp to the booster car’s positive terminal. Third, attach the black clamp to the booster car’s negative terminal. Fourth, attach the black clamp to an unpainted metal part of the dead car engine. Do not let the clamps touch each other at any point.
- Jumpstart the car: Start the booster by turning on the engine. Then, after a minute or two, start the dead car’s engine. Your dead vehicle should start up and be ready to drive.
- Disconnect the jumper cables: To disconnect the jumper cables, remove them in the reverse order you put them on. So, first, remove the black clamp from the dead car, then the black clamp from the booster car, the red clamp from the booster car, and finally, the red clamp from the dead car.
- Drive your car: After your vehicle is up and running, drive it for about 15-30 minutes to help charge its battery. If you do not drive your vehicle for a good while after it has been jumped, the battery could die again.
How to Jumpstart Your Car with a Portable Jumpstart Battery
A portable battery works very similarly to a normal jumpstart, except there are only two clamps you need to worry about: one red clamp and one black clamp.
- You’ll attach the red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to an unpainted metal part of the engine.
- Turn on the portable battery.
- After a couple of minutes, try and start your car. If it hasn’t begun, wait another minute or so.
- Drive your car for 15 to 20 minutes to charge your car’s battery.
- Remember to charge your portable battery so you are fully prepared whenever you need to jumpstart your vehicle again.
Call KC Automotive Today!
If you’re experiencing repeated car battery issues and need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact KC Automotive today. Our experienced mechanics are dedicated to providing top-notch service and confidently getting you back on the road. Whether a simple jumpstart or a more complex battery issue, you can rely on KC Automotive to deliver reliable solutions to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Don’t let car troubles slow you down – give us a call today and let us take care of your automotive needs!
