How to Jump a Car Battery

Every day drivers in Turnersville, Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel area walk out to their vehicles, get in the driver's seat and realize that their battery has died. If you are running on a tight schedule and have places to be, the last thing you have time for is a dead battery. There is good news-if you have access to another vehicle or are able to flag down a good Samaritan, you might be able to jump start your car using jumper cables. The process can be intimidating if you have never done it before, but it is actually quite simple; you should be off and on your way shortly. 

Here is a simple explanation of steps for how to jump a car battery: 

Before Jumping Your Car Battery

Before you can get a charge from a power source, you have got to make sure that you have everything you need to get the job done safely.      

• First, you must have jumper cables. If you do not have any of your own, find someone who does. Be sure to purchase jumper cables and keep them in your vehicle at all times in the future.  
          
• Next, you will need another car. The other vehicle should have a battery that has a least as much voltage as your own. Other factors do not matter if you follow the proper steps for hooking up the cables. 

Prepare the Vehicles

Park the drivable vehicle beside your own or in front, making sure that you can easily reach the batteries of both with your jumper cables. Turn off the ignitions, then place both cars in the neutral or park gear. Also, engage the emergency parking brake of both vehicles. 

Attach the Jumper Cables

Find the positive terminal of your battery. This should be clearly marked with a plus sign or "pos." It is also normally the bigger of the two terminals. Attach the red end of the jumper cables to the positive terminal of your car battery, then do the same to the other vehicle. 

Next, and this is very important-attach one black jumper cable to the other car's battery. Finally, attach the other black clip to an unpainted metal part of your car, such as the struts that hold open your hood. 

The Jump

Crank the ignition of the other vehicle, turning on the engine, and let it run for a few minutes. Give it a minute, then go ahead and start your car. If your vehicle still will not crank, let a few more minutes pass and try again. 

You should drive your vehicle immediately after using the jumper cables, to let it recharge. If this is not the first time that your battery has died, it probably needs to be replaced. 

Replacing Your Battery 

It is important to note that, though there are many factors that could cause a battery to die- you should always have a professional check your battery after noticing that the charge has diminished. Jumping your vehicle's battery does not mean that your car will not die again later down the road. Swing by Prestige Subaru in Turnersville-we'll make sure that you have a battery in your car that you can trust. 

Do not get caught up by a dead battery again-if you are a driver in Turnersville, Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel or the surrounding areas, stop by Prestige Subaru and let our excellent mechanics take care of you.