It is very common for a battery to die and in order to get home, the driver will need to jump start their car’s battery. Jump starting a battery is a simple enough task if you know what you are doing and have everything you need. If you are able to call or find someone to help give you a jump start, and even though it is a simple task, know it must be done correctly and safely. Citywide Towing Service will share how to safely jump start your vehicle to hopefully, get you home or to an auto shop to replace the vehicle’s battery.
How Long Does a Regular Car Battery Last?
Batteries typically last anywhere between 2 to 3 years. Some of the top of the line batteries may last as long as five years. However, due to the Texas climate, batteries don’t last much longer than three years. As batteries age they will begin to lose their charge. As the batteries lose their charge, sometimes it can get low enough that it can no longer start the vehicle. When the battery is too low to start the vehicle, you will need to give it a boost from another source. Jump starting the vehicle can be done from another vehicle’s battery or from a portable jump start device.
Location of Car Battery
When jump starting a vehicle, you will need to first locate the battery. Most vehicle’s battery will be on the left or right side of the engine. The battery may be on the front or back part of the engine. After locating the battery you can better determine how to position the other vehicle that will jump start your vehicle. You never want the jumper cables to be too stretched out or there could be an accident. If you are using a portable jump starter, the location won’t matter so much.
What Precautions Should You Take Before You Jump Start a Battery?
If another vehicle is providing the jump, have them position the vehicle in the optimal spot and have them turn off the vehicle. For safety reasons, make sure that the vehicle is turned off. Before setting up for the jump, inspect the battery. Make sure there is no corrosion and the battery is not leaking. If the battery is leaking or corroded, it is not safe to jump start the battery. If it is safe to jump start the vehicle, you can begin hooking up the cables.
How to Jumpstart a Car
Start by hooking up the red cable to the red terminal of the battery, then connect the black cable to the other terminal. At this point the cables are hot and can electrocute you, so make sure the other end of the cable never touches. Then connect your battery in the same order red to red terminal followed by the black cable. Again, make sure the cables do not touch. Now, have the other vehicle start up their vehicle and wait for 5 to 10 minutes. Then start up your vehicle. Remove the cables in the exact opposite order as you hooked them up. During the removal process, again make sure the cables do not contact anything.
Towing, Roadside Assistance & Cash for Junk Cars in Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Cockrell Hill, Combine, Coppell, DeSoto, Farmers Branch, Ferris, Garland, Glenn Heights, Grapevine, Highland Park, Hutchins, Lancaster, Lewisville, Ovilla, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, University Park, Wilmer, Wylie, Duncanville, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Irving, Mesquite & Greater Dallas, Texas
If you cannot find help jump starting your vehicle, contact Citywide Towing Service. We provide roadside assistance services including jump starts. For quality roadside assistance or towing services, contact Citywide Towing Service today.
