Jumpstarting 101: Keep Your Car Running

A dead car battery in the middle of nowhere can be a frustrating experience, especially when you’re enjoying the natural beauty of British Columbia. However, before calling for a tow truck, there’s a solution that many drivers can handle themselves: a jump start! At Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres, we believe in empowering BC drivers with car knowledge. So, let’s dive into the world of jump-starting and learn how to keep your battery healthy.

Jumpstarting 101: Bringing Your Car Back to Life

If your car is having trouble starting and you hear sputtering or clicking noises, there’s a good chance that your battery is dead. But don’t worry, you can quickly get back on the road with a little help from a friendly passerby and a set of jumper cables. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A functioning car with a good battery (preferably the same or similar voltage)

• A good quality set of jumper cables (make sure the clamps are secure and the cables are thick enough for your car)

Here’s the jump-starting process, step by step:

• Park both cars facing each other, close but not touching, before connecting cables.

• Turn off both engines and engage the parking brakes. Safety first!

• Identify both batteries’ positive (+) and negative (-) terminals. They’ll usually be marked with red (+) for positive and black (-) for negative.

• Connect the RED jumper cable clamp to the POSITIVE (+) terminal of the DEAD battery.

• Connect the OTHER RED jumper cable clamp to the POSITIVE (+) terminal of the GOOD battery.

• Connect the BLACK jumper cable clamp to the GOOD battery’s NEGATIVE (-) terminal.

• Find a clean, unpainted metal surface on the DEAD car’s engine block, away from the battery. This is the grounding point. Connect the BLACK jumper cable clamp from the good car to this grounding point. Important: Never connect the black clamp directly to the dead battery’s negative terminal!

• Double-check all connections are secure and no cables are touching each other.

• Start the car with the good battery and let it run for a few minutes. This allows the good battery to charge the dead one a bit.

• Try starting the car with the dead battery. If it cranks but doesn’t start immediately, wait a minute or two and try again.

• Once the dead car starts, disconnect the jumper cables in the REVERSE order you connected them.

Mission accomplished! Your car should be good to go. However, a jump start is just a temporary fix. Find out more about why your car battery keeps dying with the following related blog posts:

6 REASONS YOUR CAR BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING

4 TELLTALE SIGNS YOUR VEHICLE BATTERY MIGHT BE DYING

HOW LONG SHOULD A NEW CAR BATTERY LAST?

THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING CAR BATTERY CONNECTIONS CLEAN

Have Your Battery Checked at Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres

It’s important to have a basic understanding of car batteries to keep your vehicle in good shape and avoid unexpected complications. By following these tips and having your battery checked regularly at Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres, you can ensure your car starts reliably every time, regardless of the season or location in beautiful British Columbia. If you have any questions about your car battery or require a jump-start or battery replacement, schedule auto repair service or contact us today! Our friendly and knowledgeable technicians are always available to assist you in getting back on the road safely and promptly.