How to Jump-Start a Car

Peter Boulware Toyota prides itself on offering the full lineup of exciting new Toyota vehicles in our inventory, however we also provide professional auto auto service as well as helpful auto care tips to help ensure that your car, truck, or SUV is always running smoothly. If you find that your vehicle won’t start, it’s most likely that it just needs a jump star. Read on to find out how to jump-start a car with help from the experts in our Peter Boulware Toyota Service Center and avoid the hassle of having to call for a jump-start car service. 

The Right Tools for Jump Starting a Car

Wondering how to jump-start a car, but not sure where to start? Before you begin connecting cables and working with potentially dangerous vehicle components, it’s important to take into account all the tools you’ll need. Luckily, there are only a few essential things you need to begin the jump-starting process, and it’s so easy and safe that you can do it from the comfort of your Thomasville driveway:

• A set of jumper cables
• Another vehicle with a functioning car battery
• A flashlight
• Rubber gloves
• Protective goggles

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Jump-Start a Car

Once all of your equipment is present and accounted for, you can start jump-starting your dead vehicle by following these simple steps:

• Turn Off Vehicle: 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. 
• Locate Batteries: Open both hoods and find the batteries. You may need to remove a plastic hood to expose the battery terminals. 
• Find Positive and Negative Terminals: Once you identify the positive and negative terminals, make sure they’re clean and free of any corrosion. 
• Connect to the Positive Post: Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery, then hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge. 
• Connect to the Negative Post: Now, connect the black clamp to the negative post on the battery with the charge. For the final clamp, connect it to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame. 
• Start the 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. 
• Remove Jumper Cables: Once the dead 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. 
• Keep Engine Running: Continue to run the engine 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.

Visit Us at Peter Boulware Toyota to Schedule Service!

You may be an expert on how to jump-start a car now, but there’s always more to learn! Looking to improve your DIY maintenance skills in the Bradfordville area? You can discover more Service and Parts Tips on our website, or schedule service if you run into any problems too difficult to handle on your own! Contact us so we can put you in touch with our savvy Service team today!