Skip to main content

How to jump-start a car

How to jump-start a car


If your car won’t start there is a good chance that your battery has died. The good news is, if it is simply a dead battery, that this is a relatively simple issue to fix. All you need are jumper cables and another vehicle. It doesn’t matter who’s vehicle it is, it can be a friend, family member, kindly stranger, or even the neighbor you don’t like.

If you are only vaguely aware of how to use jumper cables, or if you are among the growing number of people that don’t know how to use them at all, you are in the right place! This edition of our how-to series looks at how to jump-start your vehicle.

What you will need:

  • Jumper cables;
  • Another vehicle.



  1. To start, make sure that both vehicles are switched off and in ‘Park’ or ‘Neutral’;
  2. Open the hood of your vehicle, there is usually a lever near the driver's seat;
  3. Locate your battery;
  4. Attach one end of the RED cable to the positive terminal on your battery, look for a plus symbol or the letters POS near one of the battery terminals;
  5. Attach the opposite end of the RED cable to the positive battery terminal in the other vehicle;
  6. Attach one end of the BLACK cable to the negative terminal in the other car;
  7. Attach the opposite end of the BLACK cable to a clean, unpainted piece of metal on your vehicle (you can use one of the struts which hold your hood open);
  8. Start the other vehicles engine and let it run for at least 5 minutes;
  9. Try starting your vehicle, if it starts let it run for at least 15 minutes to build up a charge. If the interior lights come one and the engine hums but won’t turn over the battery isn’t the issue. Similarly, if you hear a clicking sound when trying to start the car you may have a bad alternator. Regardless of the reason, if your vehicle won’t start after getting a jump you will need to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop for inspection.


So there we have it, your guide on how to jump-start a car. Did we miss anything? Do you have any tips or advice about jump-starting a vehicle? Let us and our readers know, we are always happy to hear from you!

For more information, or if you have any questions about jump starting your vehicle or to schedule a battery test give us a call on (831) 375-9571, visit us at Pacific Motor Service, 1123 Forest Ave.CA, 93950, or book an appointment with us online. The friendly and knowledgeable staff here at Pacific Motor Service will be more than happy to help!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4 Signs That Indicate Your BMW is in Need of Tune-Up

4 Signs That Indicate Your BMW is in Need of Tune-Up
Whether you drive a vintage, late-model or brand-new BMW, remember that at some point, your car will be in need of a tune-up service. Although modern cars don't need frequent servicing like the old models, it's still very important to service your BMW according to your owner's manual in order to avoid any serious problems in the long run. Basically, this means that if you drive a newer model. you have to schedule a tune-up every 30,000 miles, and if you own an older model, you have to do it every 10,000 to 20,000 miles.

Apart from the routine maintenance services, you also have to look out for these 4 common signs that indicate your BMW is in need of a tune-up.

Difficulties When Starting Your Car
When the engine of your car does not turn over, this is mainly due to a malfunction of ignition, battery, or fuel pump. This is not a serious issue and an expert auto technician would easily diagnose it. If your BMW takes some t…
43 comments
Read more

The rise of the automotive industry in Kansas City

The rise of the automotive industry in Kansas City
Kansas City is officially the nation's second-largest auto hub. City’s long history of auto production dates back to 1913 when Henry Ford made a decision to choose this region to be the first one outside of Detroit for auto production. The most recent expansion of Ford Motor Co. in this particular area was in 2011. At that time, the company announced a $1.2 billion investment that was meant to expand and retool Kansas City Assembly Plant, which is located in Claycomo. This plant is responsible for manufacturing the Transit and the F-150 full-size van.

Ford has a strong and steady relationship with area school districts which are part of the company’s Next Generation Learning initiative. Launched in 2006, that initiative provides mentoring, technical support, coaching, and financial support to 20 communities around the country.

Kansas City Assembly Plant uses interesting and innovative supply chain structure called Automotive Alle…
20 comments
Read more

Child safety in the vehicle

We all know that child car safety is quite simple, provided that you follow a couple of simple steps. The first thing you need to do is to fit child restraints correctly and make sure you always buckle your kids into them correctly. In addition, it's equally important to seat your kids appropriately so that you can avoid any fighting between them and keep them happy while on the road.

Child Restraint Basics
The first item related to child car safety that we're going to look into is the child restraint. It's an absolute must for children aged up to 7 years to travel in a child restraint. You must remember to always choose, properly fit, and use the right child restraint suitable for your child's age and size. Once your kid's shoulders reach higher than the upper shoulder height marker seen on child restraints, your kid will be ready to move to a bigger child restraint.

Seatbelts
You can set a great example for your kids if you start wearing your own seatbelt on regul…
13 comments
Read more