How to Properly Jump-Start a Car

You put the key in the ignition and your car won’t start, no need to panic you likely have a dead car battery. While a dead battery can be inconvenient, as long as you have jumper cables and proper instructions on how to jump-start a car, you should ready in no time. If you find that you keep having to jump-start your car battery, it might need to be replaced. Contact our service department in Lakewood to schedule an appointment and have our factory-trained technicians at Honda Universe take a look at your vehicle.

Steps to Properly Jump-Start a Car

Learn how to properly jump-start a car battery with us at Honda Universe. All you need is a set of jumper cables and another running car there to assist with jump-starting your car’s battery. Follow these steps below and you will be able to drive to Freehold and Toms River in no time:

1. Position the car with the working battery across from the car with the dead battery. Doing this will ensure the jumper cables can easily reach both vehicles.
2. Ensure both vehicles are in park or neutral, engage the parking brake, and shut-off the vehicle with the good battery.
3. Open the hood of both vehicles, identify the battery locations and uncoil or untangle the jumper cables.
4. Locate the positive or “+” terminal on the car with the dead battery, remove the plastic cover on the terminal if necessary, and attach one of the red clamps. Make sure to keep all ends of the jumper cable away from each other.
5. Attach the other red clamp to the positive or “+” terminal on the car with the good battery.
6. Attach the black clamp on the jumper cable to the negative or “-” terminal on the car with the working battery.
7. Connect the final black clamp to an unpainted surface on the car, with the dead battery, typically somewhere on the frame would work.
8. Once everything is clamped and secured, start the engine of the car with the good battery.
9. Start the engine of the car with the dead battery. After the car has started, begin removing the cables in the reverse order of the way you put them on. Keep all ends of the cables away from each other.
10. Once the car has started and cables have been removed, keep it running for at least ten minutes to ensure the charge holds.

If your car still won’t jump-start after following these instructions, please feel free to contact us for assistance.

Rely on Our Team at Honda Universe

Now that you’ve learned the proper way to jump-start a car, check out our other service tips and tricks and learn more about the Honda battery warranty. If you have to jump-start your vehicle often or your car won’t jump-start at all, you might need a new battery or servicing. Stop in at our service center near Jackson today and our team of experts will be more than happy to assist you.