How to Jump Start a Car

You get into your car, turn the key, and the car doesn’t start. It’s unfortunately a situation that many Neptune Beach-area drivers will encounter at some point. The good news is that a simple jump start can get you going once again. You could call a jump start service, but it’s really very easy to jump start the car on your own. Follow the steps in this guide from Honda of the Avenues to learn how to properly jump start a car. If it turns out that you need a new battery, visit our Service Center in Jacksonville and we’ll replace it for you.

The Proper Way to Jump Start a Car

If you’d rather not hassle with calling a jump start car service like AAA, you can opt to jump start your car yourself. First of all, you’ll need to get a set of jumper cables and another vehicle, then just follow these steps:

• Park the car with the good battery park facing the other vehicle. Make sure that the vehicle is turned off, and that the parking brakes of both vehicles are engaged.
• Open both hoods and find the batteries. You may need to remove a plastic hood to expose the battery terminals.
• Find the positive and negative terminals, and make sure that they are clean and free of any corrosion.
• Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
• Hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
• Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery.
• Connect the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the frame of the car with the dead battery.
• Make sure that the clamps are hooked up securely, and start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery, then start the one with the dead battery.
• Once you’ve jump-started the dead battery, 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.
• Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the battery is fully recharged. Consult your owner’s manual for more info on recommended times.

More Battery Tips and Tricks

So, what if your car won’t jump start? It could mean that you may need a new battery, or it may be a sign of a more serious issue. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

• If the car won’t start and you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key, it could indicate that the starter isn’t functioning. Schedule service at Honda of the Avenues near Orange Park, and we’ll get you set up with a new starter.
• If the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine won’t turn over, there could be a problem with the ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse. You should have the vehicle towed to our Service Center where our certified technicians can diagnose exactly what the issue is.
• It’s important to remember to keep your vehicle running for 10-15 minutes after getting the jump, in order to allow the battery to recharge.

Get Professional Honda Service at Honda of the Avenues

Our team of experts is always ready to help you take care of all your Honda maintenance and repair service. Whether it’s a simple oil change, or more intensive repair work, well get the job done right. We also are happy to offer advice and information on how an alternator works, how to reset oil life on a Honda Civic, how often to rotate tires. and what is included in your Honda CR-V maintenance schedule. If you require a new battery, you’ll find that our Honda battery warranty will add peace of mind to your purchase. Make sure to check out our current service specials and coupons, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Service Center.