Houston Auto Repair

Has your battery gone flat? If you aren't able to get a new or charged battery immediately, jump starting your car would be the next viable option. However, remember that jump leads must be used properly; otherwise, they can damage your vehicle and even cause injuries. If you can't do it well, better ask an expert to help you. Hopefully, after reading this article, you should be able to jump-start your car.

To jump-start your car, you'll need two jump leads and a vehicle whose battery is fully charged. Avoid electric or hybrid cars because they can damage your car.

Jump starting your car

If your car has stalled on the road, ask someone who has a fully charged battery to help you. The other car's battery should be the same as that of your car.

1. Park the cars such that their respective batteries are as close as possible to each other, but don't make the vehicles touch. Switch off their engines. Keep the ignition off but the handbrakes on.
    
2. One of the two jump leads should be red, while the other should be black. Take the red one and attach one end to the positive terminal of the working battery and the other end to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
    
3. Start with the black jump lead. Connect one if its ends to the working battery (on the negative terminal), then connect the remaining free end to the unpainted part of the chassis or engine block. The connections should be away from the fuel system and the flat battery.
    
4. Start the car with a good battery and keep it running for about 60 seconds.
    
5. Start the car with the dead battery. Allow both engines to run and let them idle for about ten minutes.
    
6. Turn off both the engines, disconnect the leads carefully, starting with the black one. Keep the leads away from each other as you remove them.
    
7. Start your car. If all goes well, your car should be able to start. If it fails to start, it could be because of another serious problem other than the dead battery.

Your next stop should be where your battery can get charged. If your battery is damaged, you'll need a replacement. If you need a battery replacement, we invite you to bring your vehicle to our auto repair shop today!