How to Jump-Start a Car

If your car won’t start, you likely need a jump-start or car battery service. Generally, if you jump-start a car battery, that’s all you’ll need. Knowing how to jump-start a car is an invaluable skill to have both as a driver and a good Samaritan on Nixa streets. Follow this guide on how to jump-start a car battery, what to do if a car won’t jump-start, and what kind of jump-start car service is available to you through the service center at Thompson Cadillac. 

How to Jump-Start a Car

Always keep a set of jumper cables in your vehicle in case you or someone else needs to jump-start a car battery in Ozark. You’ll also need another vehicle with a working battery. Follow these steps: 

1. Park the car with the good battery facing the other vehicle, then make sure that the vehicle is turned off. Check to make sure both parking brakes are engaged.
2. Open both hoods and find the batteries. Remove the plastic hood to expose the battery terminals if necessary.
3. Find the positive and negative terminals on top of the batteries. Make sure they’re clean and free of any corrosion.
4. Connect the red clamp of the jumper cables to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Uncoiling the battery cable, hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
6. Connect the black clamp of the jumper cable to the negative post on the good battery. 
7. For the final black clamp, connect it to an unpainted metal surface on your car’s frame.
8. Once everything is hooked up, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.
9. Once the dead vehicle has been jump-started, 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 minutes to ensure that the weak battery doesn’t die again right away. Consult your owner’s manual for more info on recommended times.

If you can’t jump-start a car battery on your own, a jump-start car service like AAA will come in handy. 

What to Do if Your Car Won’t Jump-Start

If your car doesn’t jump-start, it’s often a sign that you need a new battery or that something other than the battery is the problem. If your car won’t jump-start in Republic, consider these potential issues: 

• If you hear a clicking sound when you try to start your car, the starter might not be functioning. Schedule service at Thompson Cadillac for a replacement.
• A number of issues will cause the electrical system to turn on but the engine to fail. The ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse could be the problem. It’s worth bringing your vehicle to a service center to get the issue diagnosed.
• Be sure to keep your vehicle running for a while after getting the jump. That allows the battery to recharge fully after it’s been drained. If your battery dies immediately after a jump-start it might need to run longer. 

Turn to Thompson Cadillac for Service

No matter what kind of service your car needs, from regular maintenance to battery replacement and more, let Thompson Cadillac be your home for all your Cadillac service needs! Check out our service offers to save money on whatever your car might need!