The battery is one of the most important power sources in any vehicle. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to listen to the radio or use the air conditioning, let alone start your car! Luckily even though the battery plays such an important role, it is one of the easiest things to fix.

1. The battery is one of the most
important power sources in
any vehicle. Without it, you
wouldn’t be able to listen to
the radio or use the air
conditioning, let alone start
your car! And luckily, it is
almost as easy to bring back
to life as it is to drain.

2. • leaving your keys in the ignition
• not closing the doors all the way
• leaving a light on for an extended
period of time.
Before jumping to conclusions though, let’s make sure
it is in fact the battery that’s the problem.
Common Ways to Kill a Battery:

3. Signs of a Dead Battery:
• Engine cranks slowly or
not at all
• Lights won’t turn on
• Battery is 3-4
years old
• Smells like sulfur
• clicking noise
when you turn
the key
Signs of a
Different Problem:
• all electronic
components work
but car won’t start
• Engine turns over
normally, but car
won’t start
• lights turn on and off
while car is on

4. Make sure you have
everything you need:
Jumper cables
 Gloves
 Safety glasses
 car with a working battery
If it’s determined that your battery is dead, the
easiest way to revive it is by jump-starting it.

5. Preparation
Before you start, park both cars facing each other
with only a foot or two between their bumpers.
Turn off all electrical components, unplug
any chargers and turn both cars off.
Now roll your sleeves up and let’s
get started…

6. Figuring Out the Battery
You will notice
the batteries have
both a positive
and a negative
terminal
Locate the battery in each car and inspect both of them. If
you see anything leaking call a tow truck and have it replaced.

7. Figuring Out the Cables
Jumper cables are usually marked with colors or
stripes to help keep track of each side.

8. Matching and Attaching
Take one of the
positive ends of the
jumper cables and
clamp it on to the
positive terminal on
the dead battery.
Attach the other end of the positive cable to the
positive terminal on the active battery.

9. Matching and Attaching
Take one of the
negative ends of
the jumper cables
and clamp it to
the negative
terminal of the
active battery.
*Now you need to start being careful as the cables are
live and full of electricity!!

10. Look for protruding metal somewhere on the engine block of
the disabled car. As long as it isn’t painted or oily, attach the
unused, negative clamp here.
Some people are tempted to attach this last cable to the
negative terminal on the dead battery but that runs the risk
of acid coming off the battery and possibly even igniting.

11. Charging it Up
Turn on the engine of the good car and let
it to run for a couple minutes.
You can also rev the engine if you want, but
for no more than a minute.
This is what charges up the dead battery in the other
car and is absolutely necessary.

12. Start Your Engines!
Turn the key in the ignition of the dead car. Sometimes it
takes a couple tries but if it gets to be the fourth or fifth
attempt, stop.
Let the dead battery charge a little bit longer before trying to
start it again. You can also try taking off the last clamp and
then moving the other ones around slightly.
Worst case scenario, you will have to get your car
towed and replace the battery.

13. Taking the Cables Off
Once you successfully recharge the battery and
turn your car on, you can remove all the jumper
cables, but take them off in the opposite order
that you put them on.
Don’t let the cables touch each other or
the engine during this process.

14. Congratulations!
You just successfully jump-started your car!
If you aren’t planning on driving, keep the
jumped car running for at least a half hour so it
has time to recharge.
I know you’re proud of yourself, but just remember if you
have to jump start your car more than three times a week it is
officially old and it’s time to replace it.

15. If you go through all of this successfully but your car
fails to start up again your battery could be
completely dead or you have a dying alternator.
Either way, don’t hesitate to bring your car in
to one of our mechanics as soon as possible!
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