How to Properly Jump-Start a Car

What’s the proper way to jump-start your car? If your car isn’t starting, you likely need a jump-start, car service, or something very similar. If your car won’t jump-start when you try, follow our guide on the proper way to jump-start a car from River View Ford so that you won’t need to waste any time or money contacting a jump start car service. If you find that you need a new battery altogether, visit our service center in Oswego for a speedy replacement. 

Have more questions? After checking out our guide, contact us today to learn more! 

The Proper Way to Jump-Start a Car: A Quick Guide

To begin, you’ll want to locate a jumper cable set and another car. If necessary, you can also call a jump-start car service, such as AAA. Following these simple steps, however, should help you jump-start your car battery and get you back on the road in no time:

1. Park the vehicle with the good battery facing the other car, making sure that the car is turned off. 
2. Check to ensure that the parking brakes on both vehicles are engaged. 
3. Open the hoods on both vehicles and locate their batteries. You may need to lift a plastic hood to reveal the battery terminals. 
4. Find both the positive and negative battery terminals and make sure they’re clean and corrosion-free. 
5. Connect the jumper cable’s red clamp to the dead battery’s positive post. 
6. After uncoiling the battery cable, connect the red clamp to the positive terminal of the charged battery. 
7. Connect the black clamp to the good battery’s negative post. 
8. Connect the final clamp to an unpainted metal surface on your vehicle’s frame. 
9. After securely hooking up everything, start your car’s engine with the good battery, then the one with the dead battery. 
10. Once you’ve jump-started the dead battery, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were attached, then shut down the car used to jump start the dead battery. 
11. Keep the engine on the restarted car running for at least 10 minutes to make sure that the weakened battery doesn’t break down quickly. You’ll also want to consult your vehicle owner’s manual for suggested wait time information. 

Depend on River View Ford for Your Service Needs!

Now that we’ve covered how to jump-start a car, if you need additional help with a new battery or another maintenance issue, our expert service center is here to help! You’ll also want to check out our service specials to save big on your next maintenance or repair. Drop by or contact us today to learn more!