Auto Repair Tips: How To Jumpstart Your Car

Having a dead battery is one of those things that can hit you when you least expect it. The Covid-19 pandemic caused many of us to drive a lot less. This means that our cars were often sitting parked for days and sometimes weeks. When your battery isn’t used regularly it drains. The best way to avoid this is to prioritize regular maintenance with your trusted auto repair facility. Knowing how to jumpstart your car is an invaluable skill to have. Here is a look at how it’s done.

Take Out the Jumper Cables

It’s always a good idea to own a set of jumper cables and keep them in your trunk compartment. Once you have your jumper cables out, you’ll need to park both vehicles next to one another. Make sure the two hoods are close to each other, so the cables reach. Once this is done, place both cars in neutral and shut off the ignition. This is important as it will help to prevent the likelihood of an electrical shock. Next, engage both parking brakes and pop the hoods open.

Attach The Jumper Cables

Once your jumper cables are unwound, you will need to locate the batteries in each car. Battery positions vary but are usually found towards the top right in the engine cavity. You will notice that your jumper cables will have a red and a black clamp. Your battery should also have two color-coded metal terminals, one black, and one red. These are color-coded on purpose so that they can be matched up. Once you’re familiar with these colors, connect the red clamp to the positive (-) or red dead battery terminal. Then attach the other end of the red clamp to the working battery. Make sure it’s clamped on well to the metal surface of the terminal so it can’t snap off. You can then proceed to follow the same process with the black clamps. These go onto the negative (-) or black-colored terminal of the battery. Always ensure that you first clamp it onto the dead battery.

It’s also good to check if you have corroded battery terminals. If you see any acid leakage or rust that’s present, it’s best to consult an auto repair expert.

Start-Up Both Cars

Once the jumper cables are connected to the batteries, it’s time to turn on the car engines. Make sure that you first turn on the vehicle with the working battery. This goes without saying as the other car probably won’t be able to turn on yet. Once you’ve turned it on, it’s important to give it a little while to help power up the dead battery. A minute or two is usually sufficient. It’s time to try turning on the vehicle with the dead battery. In most cases it should start up fairly easily. Sometimes it may need a bit longer to power up before it turns on. Keep in mind that you may also have an ignition issue if your car fails to start up.

Be careful not to try starting the car too much if it won’t turn over, as this can result in a flooding of the engine with gas. If it won’t start after two or three attempts, rather give it a few more minutes. Jump starting your car is easier said than done. If you feel overwhelmed by the process, or it’s not working, rather get a reputable auto repair specialist to assist you. This will save you from getting greasy hands and wasting time.

Let Your Engine Run

Once the car with the dead battery has started again, be sure to leave the engine running. This allows the battery to charge up. While this is happening, you can carefully remove the jumper cables from both batteries in reverse order and pack them away. It’s recommended that you take your car for a drive to help charge up the battery before turning the engine off. Even if your battery seems fine after the jump start, it’s best to take it to a trusted repair facility to get it checked out thoroughly.

Make Sure You Keep Safe

Before starting, be sure to remove any dangling clothing like a tie or a scarf. When you’re bending over the engine cavity, these items can get caught in the moving parts of the engine. Don’t let metal objects touch the car batteries either. Any objects such as jewelry, tools, or loose wires can cause a spark and put the battery at risk of exploding. Make sure you never smoke while jump-starting your battery. Remember that prevention is the best solution. Investing in a scheduled maintenance plan will ensure that your battery is always kept healthy.

The Auto Repair Battery Specialists

Are you having car battery issues? At Foreign Affairs Motorwerks, we are fully equipped to help. Our team of ASE Certified technicians can take the hassle and frustration out of jumping your car battery. We will also be able to do a full diagnosis of your battery and electric systems to test for battery failure. If you ever find yourself in a pickle with your performance car, or just need a friendly mechanic to help, call Foreign Affairs Motorwerks at 954 746-0488!