How To Jump Start a Car’s Dead Battery

Step 1: LOCATE JUMPER

If you heeded the advice in our last article about items to keep in your car for winter, then you probably already stored a set of JUMPER CABLES in your vehicle. To any of the stragglers, you will have to find someone who has a set of jumper cables and is willing to spend the time giving your car’s battery a jump.

Step 2: PREPARE VEHICLES

After you locate jumper cables and another car with a charged battery, align the vehicles close enough together for the cables to reach each battery. Next, SHUT OFF the ignition to both vehicles and make sure they’re both in PARK. Then, pop both hoods and LOCATE the positive (+/POS) sign on the batteries (usually under a red rectangular covering).

Step 3: ATTACH JUMPER CABLES

After attaching the first jumper cable, BE CAREFUL to NOT touch any of the clamps to each other (to prevent electric shock).

1. Attach RED cable clip to the POSITIVE (+) terminal of the CHARGED battery
2. Attach BLACK cable clip to the NEGATIVE (-) terminal of the CHARGED battery
3. Attach other end of RED cable clip to the POSITIVE (+) terminal of the DEAD battery
4. Attach BLACK cable clip to a motionless, unpainted METAL SURFACE away from the battery

Step 4: IGNITION  

After securing the jumper cables, START the ignition of the CHARGED battery’s car. Rev the engine slightly by gently tapping the gas pedal to SPEED UP the charge. After a few minutes, START the ignition of the DEAD battery’s car and, with luck, the battery will be live.

Step 5: DRIVE

After jumping the dead battery, DRIVE around for at least 15 minutes before shutting off the engine. This will help ensure it’s holding the charge. Enjoy and be safe this winter! If you have any troubles, contact Brothers Collisions & Mechanical for all of your auto mechanic needs in Rochester!

Win Your Car Back from the Brutality of Winter

This past winter was tough on people, roads, and vehicles. While we were huddled behind our steering wheels with gloves, hats, and the heat blasting for protection, our cars were pelted with ice, snow, and snowplow gravel. To make it worse, the very roads we trusted betrayed our cars as they opened to reveal damaging potholes everywhere.

The good news is that all of that damage and dirt is fixable. At Brothers Collision and Mechanical (automotive maintenance Rochester NY) the vehicle needs you have will be handled for the right price. We will get the engine purring again, rather than shivering or sputtering as it may have during the winter. We will also tend to any damage done by plows and ice chunks. We will get your car looking and feeling just as it was before the first flake fell.

As for potholes, you might not have any idea just how damaging they may be to your car. The tires, wheel bearings, and other out of sight car parts may be damaged. Hitting a pothole hard enough can also mess up your alignment. The experts at Brothers Collision and Mechanical (automotive maintenance Rochester NY) can ensure any pothole damage is fixed promptly and without cutting into your summer vacation money.

Call Brothers Collision and Mechanical to get your car tuned up and looking sharp again.