How to Jump a Car Battery

Maybe you’re being a good Samaritan, or maybe your battery died and you need to get back on the road around Pensacola, Crestview, or Fort Walton Beach. Either way, it’s good to know how to jump a car battery, which is what this article is all about. So, keep reading, and you’ll learn how to perform this useful maneuver, while also discovering a few key signs your battery is about to die.

And, if you happen to have any more questions, just contact World Ford Pensacola!

Step-by-Step Process for Jumping a Car

If you have the right tools, which will be detailed in the following steps, then jump-starting your car is a pretty manageable process.

First things first, you’ll need jumper cables. These are essential for jumping a car, and should be kept in your trunk, or some other storage component, at all times. Once you’ve got the cables, you’ll need another car.

If you have two vehicles ready to go, place them both in park or neutral, and shut off each ignition.

Next, you’ll want to attach one of the red clips on the cables to the positive terminal of your own car’s battery. You can denote the positive terminal because it is bigger than the negative one, and will likely have “POS” or “+” somewhere on it.

After that, attach the other red clip to the positive terminal in the second vehicle. Then, you’ll want to attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on the other vehicle, not your own car.

Finally, you’ll want to attach the last black clip to some metal surface on your own vehicle that is not close to the battery.

Once you’ve got this set up correctly, you can start the engine of the working vehicle, which in this case is the opposing car rather than your own car, and let the engine run for a couple minutes.

Once you’ve done this, you should be able to start your car up again!

Signs My Battery is Dying

It’s important to know how to jump a car, but it’s also important to know when your battery is beginning to wear significantly.

If you observe any of the signs below, you’ll want to have your battery replaced or inspected before it fails:

• Slow Engine Start: If you turn your key, and find your engine isn’t starting as quickly as it usually does, this could have something to do with a worn battery.
• Swollen Case: If you pop your hood open, and find the battery case is swollen or disfigured, you likely need a replacement.
• Dashboard Warning: Depending on your vehicle, you’ll likely see either a check engine light, or a battery light pop up when your battery begins to fade.

Have Your Battery Inspected at Our Service Center

If you’ve had a battery issue while driving around Pensacola, Crestview, or Fort Walton Beach, schedule your service appointment at World Ford Pensacola!

We can repair your vehicle quickly, and we also offer a range of rolling discounts which you’ll find on our service specials page.