How to Properly Jump Start a Car

Stranded in the Leander area with a car that won’t start? You’ll either need to jump-start the car yourself or call a jump start car battery service. Read on to find out more about the proper way to jump start a car with the experts at Covert Cadillac below. Keep in mind that if you have any suspicion that your battery is about to die, our Parts Center has plenty of new batteries in stock. 

The Proper Way to Jump Start a Car

To jump start your car you’ll need a set of jumper cables and another vehicle to get your vehicle’s battery working again. You can also opt to call a jump start car service, such as AAA or Allstate. But if you are planning on jump-starting your car on your own, follow these instructions closely: 

1. Turn Off Vehicle with Good Battery: Have the car with the good battery park facing the other vehicle, then make sure that the vehicle is turned off. Check to make sure both parking brakes are engaged.
2. Open Hoods and Identify Battery Terminals: Open both hoods and find the batteries. You may need to remove a plastic hood to expose the battery terminals.
3. Locate Negative and Positive Terminals: Identify the positive and negative terminals. Make sure they’re clean and free of any corrosion.
4. Red Clamp to Dead Positive Post: Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Other Red Clamp to Live Positive Post: Uncoiling the battery cable, hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
6. Black Clamp to Dead Negative Post: Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery. 
7. Black Clamp to Unpainted Metal Surface: For the final clamp, connect it to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. Turn on Good Engine, then Dead Engine: Once everything is hooked up securely, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.
9. Remove Cables After Successful Jump Start: Once your vehicle has been jump-started, carefully remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were placed on, then shut off the car that was used to help jump start the dead car.
10. Keep Engine Running: Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 minutes to ensure that the weak battery doesn’t die again right away. Consult your owner’s manual for more info on recommended times.

Car Battery Jump Start Tips & Advice

If you’ve gone through our step-by-step instructions and still your car won’t jump start, you might be in need of a battery replacement. Check out some battery tips and tricks from the service experts at Covert Cadillac to find out if you’re dealing with a more complicated vehicle malfunction: 

1. Make sure to keep your vehicle running for a while after getting the jump. That allows the battery to recharge fully after it’s been drained.
2. If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine fails to turn over, the problem could be with the ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse. It’s worth bringing your vehicle to our Austin service center so they can diagnose the issue.
3. If you try to start the car but only hear a clicking sound, the starter might not be functioning. Schedule service at Covert Cadillac near Cedar Park for a replacement.

Get Your Battery Replaced at Covert Cadillac Today!

Learning how to properly jump start a car is different than learning how to replace a car battery, which is why this service should be left to the certified technicians at our dealership! Contact us today to schedule a battery replacement service, or if you have any further questions or concerns.