How to Jump-Start a Car

Whether you’re heading in to work or grabbing groceries, a dead car battery can throw a wrench in your entire day. However, you can save lots of time and energy by learning how to jump-start a car yourself. We also recommend finding a reliable Omaha-area jump start car service to use as backup, in case your car won’t jump start. In the guide below, Honda of Lincoln technicians show you the proper way to jump-start a car, and how to find a quality jump start car service in your area!

What Does It Mean to Jump Start a Car Battery?

When you jump start a car battery, you temporarily borrow power from another car’s battery. To do this, you use jumper cable to connect your battery to the other car’s battery. Once the terminals are connected, power from the good battery recharges yours — and provides enough juice to crank the engine. At this point, your car’s normal charging system will recharge, and you can disconnect from the other vehicle.

How to Properly Jump Start a Car

Car batteries store up to 12.8 volts of power — so it’s important that you don’t attempt a jump unless you’re clear on the proper way to jump-start a car. When you’re ready, grab your jumper cables and follow these steps:

1. Pull the other car around to face yours.
2. Put both vehicles in Park and engage their parking brakes.
3. In both vehicles, turn the key in the ignition to the “Lock” position.
4. On each car, open the hood and locate the battery. In most vehicles, it’s protected by a plastic hood. Lift the battery hood to access the terminals.
5. Locate the positive (marked “+”) and negative (marked “-”) battery terminals, and look them over for corrosion. Corrosion looks like a white, green, or blue-tinged crust surrounding the battery terminals.
6. Pick up the red jumper cable. Clip one end to your battery’s positive terminal, and the opposite end to the other car’s positive battery terminal.
7. Pick up the black jumper cable. Clip one end to any unpainted metal surface on your vehicle’s body (away from the battery), and the opposite end to the other car’s negative battery terminal. 
8. Check that all 4 jumper clamps are secure. 
9. Start the engine of the other car and run the engine for about 5 minutes.
10. Try starting your engine.
11. If your car starts, you can disconnect the cables. Now you know how to properly jump-start a car!

Your Car Won’t Jump Start — Now What?

After you jump start a car battery, drive your car for at least 15 minutes to help the system recharge fully. In most cases, this should ensure that power is restored to your battery. However, you might find that your car won’t jump-start, or loses power immediately after a jump. If that happens, not to worry. You just need a jump start car service!

Find Professional Jump Start Car Service in Lincoln 

Sometimes your car won’t jump-start — even when you know the proper way to jump-start a car. A jump start car service near you in Gretna or Bellevue can send technicians to jump start your car for you, or tow your car to a Honda dealership for battery service. If your car battery is on its last legs, schedule service to replace it today — and certified Honda of Lincoln technicians will answer your car-care questions and get you back on the road ASAP!