Temperatures are dropping here in upstate New York and that means your car battery might be on its last leg. Whether you know it or not, your vehicle could leave you stranded and if you’re unsure what to do when your car battery dies, you will be in quite the predicament. Don’t worry though, we have you covered. This week, we have your guide on how to jump your vehicle in a few easy steps. Let’s get into it!

Take out your jumper cables

It’s a good idea to own your own set of jumper cables and store them in your car. If you don’t have jumper cables, call a friend or look for a good Samaritan who is will to assist you.

Place both vehicles in park or neutral and shut off the ignition

Both vehicles should be in park/ neutral, engines turned off, and both parking brakes should be engaged as well.  

Attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your battery

Attach the other red clip to the positive terminal on the other vehicle.

Attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on the battery of the other vehicle.

Attach the last black clip to an unpainted metal surface on your vehicle that is not near the battery.

Using a metal strut that holds the bonnet open is perfect for this.

Try to start your vehicle

If your vehicle will not start, make sure that all cables are properly connected to the right terminals and have the person helping you, run their engine for about five minutes. After a few minutes, try starting your vehicle once again. If your vehicle still will not start, your battery might be beyond help and you’ll need to replace immediately.

If you’re unsure how much life your battery has left, stop in to see us for a test and let our technicians take care of your battery! For comments or questions, give our service department a call. We are happy to assist you in any way we can!