How to Jump-Start a Car

If you can’t get your vehicle to start, a jump-start, car battery service, or something similar may be needed. Our guides detail how to properly jump-start a car, so you don’t need to call a jump-start car service. If the battery is nearing the end of its life, stop by our service center near Leawood for a replacement battery.

What’s The Proper Way to Jump-Start a Car?

Before starting, make sure you have a set of jumper cables and another vehicle. You could contact a jump-start car service like AAA, otherwise, follow these steps below:

1. Have the car with the working battery park facing your vehicle, then make sure the vehicle is turned off and both parking brakes are engaged.
2. Open both hoods and locate the batteries. There’s a chance that you’ll have to remove a plastic hood to expose the battery terminals.
3. Identify the positive and negative terminals. They should be clean and free of any corrosion.
4. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Uncoil the battery cable and hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
6. Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery. 
7. For the final clamp, it gets connected to an unpainted metal surface that’s on your car’s frame.
8. With everything hooked up securely, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.
9. Once our vehicle has been jump-started, carefully remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were placed on, then shut off the car used to help jump-start the dead car.
10. Keep the engine running on your vehicle for about 10 minutes to make sure that the weak battery doesn’t die again. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for additional information on the recommended times.

Additional Car Battery Tips and Tricks

If you’re having trouble and your car won’t jump-start, you may need a battery replacement, as this can be a sign of a more serious problem. Troubleshoot the issue with these steps below:

1. If you hear a clicking sound when trying to start the car, the starter may not be working. Schedule Service near Overland Park, KS for a battery replacement. 
2. If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine doesn’t turn over, there can be a number of issues. The ignition switch, battery, starter, or fuse can be the issue. It’s worth bringing your car to our service center to have a factory-trained and certified technician fix the problem. 
3. Keep your vehicle running for a short while after getting the jump to allow the battery to recharge fully after it was drained.

Additional Service Tips in Kansas City!

Whether you need help with your new battery or a routine oil change, our service team can help! They know your vehicle inside and out and will make sure that it continues performing at its best for years to come. Contact our service department if you have any questions. Don’t forget to explore our service specials to use on your next service visit with us.