How to Jump Start a Car

It can be stressful when your car won’t start, but in most cases, all it takes is a quick jump start. Though most drivers choose to call a jump start service car service like AAA, it’s really easy to jump start a car on your own. Not sure how? Our service teamat Medlin Mazda has created a guide to help drivers learn how to properly jump start a car so you can get back onto Rocky Mount roads in no time.

The Proper Way to Jump Start a Car

Instead of waiting around for a jump start car service to show up, you can jump start your vehicle on your own. To do this, you’ll first need a set of jumper cables and a friend that has a vehicle with a fully charged battery. Once you have what you need, follow these steps:

1. Make sure your friend’s car is parked facing your vehicle. Once the vehicles are facing each other, you’ll want to turn both vehicles off and engage the parking brakes.
2. Open both hoods and find the batteries. Some batteries have plastic hoods covering the terminals, so you’ll need to remove them.
3. Find the positive and negative terminals on both batteries and make sure they are free of corrosion.
4. Attach the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Attach 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. Attach the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the frame of the car with the dead battery.
8. After the clamps are secured, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery. Then, start the one with the dead battery.
9. Once you’ve successfully jump-started the car, 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. You’ll want to keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for about 10 to 15 minutes to make sure the battery is fully charged. If you want a more specific time frame, check your owner’s manual.

Other Service Tips and Tricks

So, what does it mean if my car won’t jump start? This could mean the battery is dead and needs replacing, but it could also be a sign of an electrical issue. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• If turning the key produces a clicking sound and the car won’t start, it could be the starter. You’ll want to schedule an appointment with the Medlin Mazda service center to get a new one installed.
• If the electrical systems of the car come on when you turn the key, but the engine won’t turn over, the problem could be with the ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse. We can diagnose exactly what the issue is and fix it so you can be on your way in no time.
• After successfully jump-starting your vehicle, it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll need to keep it running for 10 to 15 minutes to let the battery fully recharge.

Have Your Vehicle Serviced at Medlin Mazda

You can avoid having to jump start your vehicle by keeping up with your model’s regular maintenance schedule. Learn more about the Mazda maintenance schedules by checking your owner’s manual or with our team at Medlin Mazda. We offer service specials to help drivers save even more on the maintenance needed to keep their vehicles in the best shape possible. Get in touch with our team today with any questions, to learn how to open the Mazda key fob and replace the battery, about battery replacement, or to learn more about tire rotations!