How to Jump Start a Car

If you find that your car won’t start, all you may need to do is jump start the car battery to get back on the Tustin-area roads. You could call a jump start car service like AAA, but it is really very easy to jump start the vehicle on your own. In this guide from the experts in the Service Center at Weir Canyon Honda you’ll learn how to properly jumpstart a car. If you need a replacement battery, contact our Parts Department.

The Proper Way to Jump Start a Car

To avoid the hassle of waiting around for a jump start car service to show up, you can take matters into your own hands and jump start your car yourself. All that you need is a set of jumper cables and another vehicle. Follow these steps to jump start your car battery:

1. Park the car with the good battery facing the other vehicle. Make sure that both vehicles are turned off, and that the parking brakes of both vehicles are engaged.
2. Open both hoods and find the batteries. Note that some batteries have plastic hoods covering the terminals, and these will need to be removed in order to jump start the car.
3. Identify the positive and negative terminals, and make sure that they are clean and free of any 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. Make sure that the clamps are secure, and start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery. Then, start the one with the dead battery.
9. Once you’ve jump-started the car with the dead battery, 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. Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the battery is fully recharged. Consult your owner’s manual for more information on recommended times.

More Battery Tips and Tricks

What if your car won’t jump start? It could mean that you need a new battery, or it may be a sign of a more serious issue with the electrical system. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• If the car won’t start and you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key, it could be a sign that the starter isn’t working. Schedule service at Weir Canyon Honda near Irvine, and we’ll install a new starter for you.
• If the electrical systems of the car comes 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. Have the vehicle towed to our Service Center, where our certified technicians can diagnose exactly what the issue is.
• Remember that once you have successfully jump-started your car, you need to keep it running for 10 to 15 minutes in order for the battery to fully recharge.

Get Professional Auto Service & Repair at Weir Canyon Honda

The service team at Weir Canyon Honda has the skill and expertise to handle all of your vehicle maintenance and repair needs in the Yorba Linda area. We can also provide advice on everything from how to check your transmission fluid to how to reset the oil life on your Honda Civic and how to enter the Civic radio code. We can even fill you in on the proper way to clean your car floor mats or how often to change your oil. Make sure to take advantage of our service coupons and parts specials, and if you need a new battery check out the Honda battery warranty. Have questions? Contact our Service Center online or give us a call at (714) 777-4100.

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