How to Jump-Start a Car

It happens to every Hillsboro driver — sooner or later you or someone you know will need to know how to properly jump-start a car so you don’t need to call a jump-start car service Whether you need a jump-start, car battery service, or other assistance with your car’s electrical system, the service department at Dick Hannah RAM is here to help. 

How to Properly Jump-Start a Car

It’s always a good idea to keep a set of jumper cables in your car so you can jump-start a car, whether it’s yours or if you’re being a good samaritan. The only other thing you need is a second car with a charged battery, then follow these steps:

1. Park the car with the good battery so that its battery is accessible to the one that needs a jump. Turn off that vehicle and engage the parking brakes on both vehicles.
2. Open both hoods. 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. Hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
5. Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery. Connect the second black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the car’s frame.
6. Once everything is hooked up securely, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.
7. When the dead vehicle has been jump-started, 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.
8. Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 minutes to ensure that the weak battery gets recharged. Consult your owner’s manual for more info on recommended times.

More Battery Tips and Tricks

If your car won’t jump-start, there might be a more significant battery problem. Here’s how you can troubleshoot battery problems: 

• If you try to start the car but only hear a clicking sound, the starter might not be functioning. Schedule service at Dick Hannah RAM for a replacement.
• If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine fails to turn over, the problem could be the ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse. Bring your vehicle to our service department so they can diagnose the issue.

Turn to Dick Hannah RAM for Service Help

Whether you need battery assistance or an oil change, we can help. Our service center is located near Hillsboro, so stop by today or contact us with any questions.