How to Properly Jump-Start a Car

If you find that your car is not starting around Rancho Cucamonga, then it’s crucial to know how to jump-start a car. This can occur simply by accidentally leaving your car lights on for too long or can be a sign that it’s time for a brand new car battery. No matter what the issue is, the service team at John Elway's Crown Toyota is here to break down the proper way to jump start a car battery so you can get back behind the wheel in no time! 

How to Jump-Start a Car Battery 

When it comes to knowing how to properly jump-start a car, you can easily get this done with the assistance of family or a friend as long as you have a set of jumper cables and another vehicle to give your car the extra power it needs. Sometimes you might be farther away from Eastvale with car issues with limited access to help, but you can always call a jump-start car service like AAA or utilize the benefits of your roadside assistance coverage. Follow the steps how to jump start a car battery below:

1. 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 both hoods and find the batteries. You may need to remove a plastic hood to expose the battery terminals.
3. Identify the positive and negative terminals. Make sure they’re clean and free of any corrosion.
4. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Uncoiling the battery cable, 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, connect it to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. 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. 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.
10. 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.

More Jump-Start Car Service and Battery Tips and Tricks

Even if you know how to jump-start a car, if you find your car won’t jump-start it may be time to replace the battery itself or try to spot other car problems that need to be addressed. See some more helpful jump start car service tips below:

1. If you try to start the car but only hear a clicking sound, the starter might not be functioning. Schedule service at John Elway's Crown Toyota near Eastvale for a replacement.
2. If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine fails to turn over, the problem could be a number of issues. The ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse could be the problem. It’s worth bringing your vehicle to a service center so they can diagnose the issue.
3. Be 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.

Get Jump-Start Car Service at John Elway's Crown Toyota 

Now that you know more about the proper way to jump start a car, you can easily get back behind the wheel so you can make your way through Fontana. There are even more helpful car service tips and tricks at John Elway's Crown Toyota and discover how you can save on the essential maintenance you need most with our rotating service specials and coupons. Contact us today for more information on how to jump-start a car battery and so you can set up your next service visit at our Toyota dealership here in Ontario!