How to Jump-Start a Car

What happens when your vehicle won't start in your North Tonawanda driveway or while you are running errands in Grand Island? You will likely require a jump-start, car battery service, or something similar. If you do not want to have to call a jump-start car service, it is important to know how to properly jump-start a car. That is why the team at Basil Ford of Niagara Falls has created this handy guide below. 

The Proper Way to Jump-Start a Car

Once you have secured a set of jumper cables and found another vehicle that is willing to offer assistance, all you have to do is follow the steps below:


  1. The car with the working battery should park facing the vehicle with the depleted battery. Make sure the car with the working battery is shut off. The parking brakes on both vehicles should be engaged. 

  2. Pop open the hood of each car to locate the batteries. For some makes and models, you may need to remove a plastic hood to get to the battery terminals.

  3. Find the positive and negative battery terminals and ensure they are clean and clear of corrosion.

  4. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the battery that needs to be charged.

  5. Uncoil the battery cable and attach the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.

  6. Attach the black clamp to the negative post on the working battery. 

  7. The final clamp should be attached to an unpainted metal surface on the car's frame.

  8. After all components are secure, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first, then the one with the dead battery.

  9. Once the dead vehicle has been jump-started, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order very carefully. Shut off the car that was used to help jump-start the car with the depleted battery. 

  10. Run the engine of the vehicle that received the jump-start for at least 10 minutes so that the battery does not immediately die again.


More Information About Jump-Starting Your Vehicle

If your car won't jump-start, it could be a sign that you need to replace the battery or an indicator of a more serious issue. 

  1. If you try and start the car but it only makes a clicking sound, it could be due to a faulty alternator. If this is the case, bring your vehicle in for a service appointment at Basil Ford of Niagara Falls. 

  2. If the electrical systems will turn on, but the engine fails to turn over, the problem could be due to a host of issues such as problems with the ignition switch, battery, starter, or a fuse. Once again, it is a good idea to have your vehicle looked at by one of the skilled technicians at Basil Ford of Niagara Falls. 

  3. Be sure to keep your vehicle running for a while after getting the jump. The battery will need time to recharge. 

Trust the Knowledgeable Team at Basil Ford of Niagara Falls

When your vehicle is in need of routine maintenance or extensive repairs, the service experts at Basil Ford of Niagara Falls have you covered. Contact us today for more information.