There are many different reasons why your car battery might not be working as it should. Sometimes the weather can affect how well your engine runs, especially if there is a lot of snow or ice around. And sometimes, you might be unlucky and buy a dud battery from the outset. In this article, we look at How to Jump-Start Your Car jump start your car when it doesn’t start without warning.

Be Sure to Wear Protective Gear

Remember, safety first always! It does not matter whether you are jumping your car or somebody else’s; you must wear protective gear throughout the process. Some of this protective gear includes heavy rubber gloves and goggles to protect you from battery acid, potentially harmful if it comes into contact with your skin or eyes.

Find Out Which Terminals Are Positive and Negative

When jump-starting a dead battery, the first thing to do is to determine which terminals are positive and negative. Look at the diagram on top of the battery, noting the color codes for positive (+) and negative (-). Then follow the corresponding cables to determine which terminal belongs in what category before attempting any further. Never attach the positive cable to a negative terminal or vice versa, which could have disastrous consequences.

Attach the Cables

Once you know which terminal is positive and which one is negative, now it’s time to attach the cables. You first need to take your red (positive) cable and connect it to the positive terminal of another car’s battery. Once that is done, connect another end of the red cable to your dead car’s positive terminal. Then do the same with your black (negative) cable by connecting it first to one end of an alligator clip, then attaching that end of the clip to your other car’s negative terminal, followed by attaching the other end of your black cable to your dead car’s negative terminal.

Start the Working Car

Now that all of your cables are attached, start the working car. You might hear a sizzling or crackling sound coming from under the hood as this indicates that electricity is now flowing freely through the battery again. Some people prefer to keep their jumper cables attached even after jumping has taken place to provide power for up to an hour before attempting another jump start with another person like AAA or Samaritan who can assist you if needed. This can be very useful when it comes time for you to turn on your vehicle, allowing you more time to get home without having to call somebody else to help out during rush hour traffic.

Turn On Your Car

After successfully jumping your dead car battery, it’s time to turn on the ignition so you can drive off into the sunset. However, if nothing happens or nothing is heard at all, then it could be that there are other problems with your vehicle apart from just a dead battery. If this is the case, take your vehicle to a mechanic before attempting again. The last thing you want to do is damage other parts by jump-starting a car battery when another problem affects its performance.

Disconnect the Cables

Once you have successfully started up your car and have determined that everything else with it appears to work as intended, now it’s time to disconnect those jumper cables. First, take one end of the black cable and detach it from your dead car’s negative terminal. At this point, if you are dealing with another person’s car, then be sure to ask permission before you proceed any further. Then take one end of the red cable and detach it from your other vehicle’s positive terminal. Finally, attach both ends of each respective cable back into their original positions so they can be used again for someone else who might need a jump start in the future.

Choosing the Right Towing Service

When you find yourself stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery, you can count on 24 Hour Towing St. Louis Mo to get your car back up and running in no time! We have been providing reliable roadside assistance for decades now, so we can always help our customers no matter what their situation is. If anything makes us stand out from other tow truck services, it would be our family-owned values that make customer service an absolute priority.

Getting Started With 24 Hour Towing St. Louis MO

24 Hour Towing St. Louis has been serving St. Louis and the surrounding communities for years. If you need some assistance or information regarding how to jump start your car give us a call at (314)597-0775 or Contact Us. We look forward to serving you.