How to Jump Start a Car

Having trouble turning your engine over? You’ll most likely need to jump start your car battery. At 495 Mazda, our service center experts have put together a quick and easy guide to safely learn how to properly jump start a car. Read on to discover all the tips and tricks you need to get up and running again around Boston, MA.

The Proper Way to Jump Start a Car

First, if you have a jump start car service like AAA, you can always call them to help. .If you don’t want to wait, or if you prefer to work with your vehicle yourself, you’ll need a set of jumper cables and another vehicle. Then, simply read carefully and follow these steps:

• Park the two cars facing each other, with some room in between to be able to move through the gap, as long as the cables can reach between the two batteries. Make sure that each vehicle is turned off, and that the parking brakes are engaged.
• Open both hoods and find the batteries. You may need to remove a plastic cover to expose the terminals on the battery.
• Identify the positive terminal on your battery, marked with a plus (+) sign, and the negative terminal, marked with a minus (-) sign. Make sure they’re clean and free of any corrosion.
• Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
• After uncoiling the battery cable, attach the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
• Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery.
• Then connect the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
• If everything is connected securely, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.

Once you’ve successfully jump-started your vehicle, keep it running for the next 10-15 minutes at least to recharge its battery for your next drive around Nashua, NH. Carefully disconnect the cables in reverse order from their connections. Also, it’s always a good idea to consult your owner’s manual for recharge time and the particulars of your vehicle’s layout.

Battery Tips and Tricks

If your car won’t jump start, it could mean that you need a battery replacement, or that there is a problem with the generator, alternator, starter, or other electrical system. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

• If you hear a clicking sound when you attempt to start the car, the starter could be malfunctioning.
• If your electrical systems turn on fine, but the engine won’t start, there could be a few different issues. The ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse could be the problem. Schedule a service with our professionals just outside of Wakefield, MA to diagnose the problem.

Get Professional Auto Service and Repair at 495 Mazda

With the proper way to jump start a car under your belt, you should be ready to hit the road! Whatever your auto service needs for your, our highly-trained techs in Lowell can help. Make sure to check out our current service specials to take advantage of our money-saving offers, and take a look at our car-buying tips to make sure you end up with the right vehicle at the right price. And if you’re interested in that freedom a well-maintained vehicle offers, explore our Lowell Guide or contact us at 495 Mazda today with any questions!

Want to learn more? Be sure to compare the Mazda CX-3 vs. CX-5 with our team today.