How to Jump-Start a Car

While many Darlington and Dillon drivers have roadside assistance plans to help when the unexpected happens, it’s always a good idea to be able to handle small emergencies on your own. One skill we encourage all drivers to have is the ability to jump-start a car. When you know how to jump-start a car you can save time and even money. Not sure about the proper way to jump-start a car? The service center at Nissan of Florence breaks it down into easy steps for you. 

The Proper Way to Jump-Start a Car

As long as you have a friend with a good car battery and a set of jumper cables handy when you find yourself in Sumter with a dead car battery, you can quickly jump-start your car without having to wait for a jump-start car service. Of course, you can also use the help of a good samaritan, but if you’re not comfortable doing this, it’s perfectly acceptable to call for assistance for a jump-start car service. 

1. Park the two vehicles with the batteries facing each other. Most vehicles have batteries in the engines, so face them hood-to-hood. Some cars have a battery in the trunk. 
2. After you’ve parked the vehicles, turn them off and set the parking brakes.
3. Gain access to the batteries. You may need to remove a plastic hood to expose the battery terminals.
4. Find the positive and negative battery terminals. Make sure they are clean and free of any corrosion or dirt.
5. Take stock of your cables and separate the red ends from the black ends. Never let the metal ends of the jumper cables touch—they can create sparks. 
6. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery. Uncoi the battery cable and hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
7. Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery. Connect the last black clamp to a grounded, unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. Start the engine of the vehicle with a good battery. You may try to start the dead battery engine right away, but it’s a good idea to let the car with the good battery run for a bit, then try starting the engine of the other vehicle. 
9. Once the dead vehicle has been successfully jump-started, carefully remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were placed on, and keep the other vehicle running.
10. Be sure to 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. It’s also recommended that you get your battery tested and/or replaced. Schedule an appointment with us—you can even do it from your phone while you’re waiting for your battery to charge. 

When it Isn’t a Dead Battery

Some automotive problems can seem like a dead battery that needs a jump-start when something else is the problem. If you try to start the car but only hear a clicking sound, the starter might not be functioning. If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine does not, then the issue could be several things including the ignition switch, starter, or even something as simple as a blown fuse. It’s worth bringing your vehicle to a qualified service center for further diagnostics and investigation.

Turn to Nissan of Florence for More DIY Car Care Tips

Knowing the basics of car maintenance and service can mean the difference between time spent waiting on the side of the road, or staying on the move and on schedule. If you’d like to learn more, like how much you can expect to pay for an oil change, check out the Nissan of Florence service tips.