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Trouble Jump-Starting Your Car?

AAMCO Utah • March 3, 2020

It doesn’t matter what type of car you own, in the course of its lifespan or ownership, you will need to jump-start it. While jump-starting a car is fairly easy, you will be surprised by the number of vehicle owners who have no idea how to do it, and for a good reason — it can be a bit dangerous.

Depending on the type of battery problems that are causing it to lose charge, for instance, a leaking battery, it is a wise idea to schedule a car battery service or car battery replacement with a reputable auto care center such as AAMCO Utah. If you are unsure of how to jump-start your battery properly, don’t be a hero, call a professional mechanic. Jump-starting your car battery without taking the basic precautions could seriously damage your vehicle as well as the other vehicle you intend to use to jump-start your car.

Related:  When Your Car Needs Electrical Servicing
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Related:  Battery, Alternator, or Starter?

How to Jump-start a Car

To safely jump-start your vehicle, you will need to create a circuit that will carry the current from the live battery to your dead car battery. To successfully pull this off, the battery cable connection needs to be in the right order.

 

  1. First, connect on the end of the red cable jumper (positive) to the positive (+) or red post of your dead car battery.
  2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (red) jumper cable to the red (+) positive post of the fully charged live car battery.
  3. Connect one end of the blackjack (negative) jumper cable to the black (-) negative post of the fully charged car battery.
  4. Now, connect the opposite end of your negative (black)jumper cable to the metallic unpainted part of the dead car. Ensure the cable is far from the battery as it can get. This action will ground the circuit and help prevent sparking. It’s important to note that pairing it to the faulty battery heightens the risk of an explosion.
  5. Before you move on, ensure that the cables don’t get in touch with any engine parts that vibrate when the engine is running.
  6. Finally, turn on the vehicle with a full battery and allow it to idle for about five minutes. This process helps boost the dead battery. Turn off the engine and remove the battery cables in reverse order. Make sure the cables do not get into contact while removing since it could result in sparking. Try to start the engine with the dead battery.

My car won’t Jump-start, what does it Mean?

Does your car fail to start even after jump-starting? In case it does, it could mean you have a faulty or a  dead battery, a bad alternator, loose or corroded cable connectors. It could also mean you have a faulty starter.

Dead or Dying Battery

In case trying to crank your engine and it becomes sluggish like a harder to start situation on a cold morning, it starts inconsistently, or there are little sound and interior lights when you crank your vehicle, a bad battery could be the culprit. First, try to determine if your battery is simply at the end of its life, or there could be underlying issues. Having a dead or low battery could also be due to a faulty alternator. It can also be as a result of extra draw from fuses, auxiliary lights, or even alarms. Scheduling a car battery service or car battery replacement could help solve the problem.

Two white cars are parked next to each other in a gravel lot.
A close up of an alternator on a car engine.

Faulty Alternator

If you are experiencing a no-start situation, dimming lights, stereo output problems, trouble starting, or car starts but stalls suddenly, your battery could be losing power due to a faulty alternator. In case you notice a squealing sound coming from your engine that gets louder when your heater or sound system is on, your alternator bearings may be wearing out. Moreover, if your vehicle will not crank or start when the headlights are on, or your headlamps dim when your stereo is on or during cranking, your alternator could be faulty.

Faulty Car Starter

Your vehicle’s starter is a vital component and is what is responsible for starting your engine. Your car battery sends a jolt of electricity that the starter uses to turn on your engine to get it to start. If your starter is faulty, it will make a clicking sound when the key is turned. You will also notice that the car won’t start even when the dashboard lights are on. Also, trying to jump-start your vehicle will not turn the engine over at all.

Two starter motors are sitting next to each other on a table.

AAMCO Utah Car Battery Repair Service

Do you have problems jump-starting your car? Are you constantly stuck on the road due to a battery drain ? You could have a faulty battery that needs a car battery repair service. At AAMCO Utah , we specialize in car battery replacement, car battery repair, and maintenance services. We also offer other car maintenance services such as; suspension service and repair, brake service, regular car service, engine tune-up service, and many more.

Did your vehicle stall due to a dead battery? Contact your local AAMCO Utah auto care center and ask for a free tow. Our technicians will work hard to get you back on the road in good time.

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