Blog / Big Lake Chevrolet Dealer

How to Jump Start a Car: Six Basic Steps

How to Jump Start a Car Six Basic Steps
A dead battery happens to almost everyone at least once, and when it does, you'll want to know how to jump start a car. If you don't do it correctly, you could end up damaging your vehicle's engine. Follow these basic steps to safely jump start your car's battery.

Step 1: Park the Car With the Working Battery Close to the Front of Your Car

The best position for jump starting your car is for the vehicle with the working battery to park nose-to-nose with your car, with the front bumpers almost touching. You want to get as close as possible so the jumper cables will reach from the good battery to your dead one. Of course, if your battery is in the rear of your car, park nose-to-rear-bumper instead.

Step 2: Identify the Battery Terminals

The terminals of your battery are the points to which you will connect the jumper cables. One is marked with a + (positive) sign and the other is marked with a - (negative) sign. Your positive terminal will likely be covered by a rubber cap, which you will need to remove before connecting the cables.

Step 3: Connect the Cables to the Battery Terminals

This is the most critical step. Your cables are color-coded red and black to correspond with the positive (red) and negative (black) terminals. Be sure the metal clamps at the end of the cables don't touch each other. Place the red clamp onto the dead battery's positive terminal and set the black clamp onto a plastic component of your vehicle. Attach the red clamp on the other end of the cable to the positive terminal of the good battery. Attach the black clamp on that same end of the cable to the negative terminal of the good battery. Return to your car, but do not attach the black clamp to the dead battery's negative terminal. Instead, attach it to a nearby, bare-metal bolt. Attaching the clamp to the battery could cause it to spark and ignite into a fire. Check that all clamps are tight by wiggling them to ensure they do not come off their positions.

Step 4: Start the Engines

Ensure that the cables are not tangled in any moving parts, then start the car with the good battery. Allow it to run for a few minutes to provide a small charge to your car's battery. Attempt to start your car. If it still won't start, turn off your car and wait another 10 minutes or so, then try again. If it doesn't start this time, your battery is probably beyond repair and you'll need to replace it.

Step 5: Remove Jumper Cables

Once your car does start, leave it running. Disconnect the jumper cables by first removing the black clamp on the bare-metal bolt. Then, remove the red clamp from your car's positive terminal, making sure the ends never come close to touching. Place both ends on the ground before disconnecting the red clamp from the good battery's positive terminal, then the black clamp from the negative terminal.

Step 6: Have Your Battery Inspected

After you get your car running and fully charge the battery, bring it in to a service shop to have it inspected. Factory-trained technicians will be able to tell you if the battery is still good or if that or another part of your vehicle (like the alternator) needs to be repaired or replaced. A jump start is hard on your battery, so you should only do it if you absolutely have to. However, always bring your car in to be checked out after a jump start. Contact Glasscock Chevrolet to schedule your battery inspection today. Image courtesy of pixabay.com
Posted in:

Related Posts

Meet the 2023 Chevy Traverse

Meet the 2023 Chevy Traverse

The much-anticipated 2023 Chevy Traverse has finally arrived, and it offers capable performance alongside an available all-wheel-drive powertrain. With multiple trim levels to choose from, room for as many as eight passengers, and stunning technology in both its entertainment and driver-assist features, this is one SUV that's been well worth the wait. more Performance Powering the 2023 Traverse is an impressive 3.6-liter V6. With 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, it provides plenty of strength for both highway cruising and off-road trails. A standard nine-speed automatic transmission and five-link rear suspension provide seamless shifts and smooth drives in different scenarios. When fully equipped, the Traverse can easily tow up to 5,000 pounds, and there's an available heavy-duty cooling steam to prevent overheating when hauling trailers. Every model also comes with Automatic Stop/Start technology as well, which can help save fuel by shutting the engine off when it's not needed. Interior This edition's interior is both spacious and classy, with three rows for passengers and best-in-class 98.2 cubic feet of available cargo space. For interior colors, there are multiple unique combinations available, including Jet Black/Spice Red and Jet Black/Maple Sugar. You can also choose between premium cloth or perforated leather-appointed seating fabrics. Heated driver and front passenger seats are available, as well as heated rear outboard seats. To ensure that every ride is a quiet one, Active Noise Cancellation comes standard with every model to reduce road noise. Technology Impressive tech features can also be found inside this SUV, including the standard Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus System, which offers an available 8-inch diagonal touchscreen display. While using this system to make hands-free calls or get navigation instructions, you can also connect it to both Apple and Android devices wirelessly or enjoy music from it through the available premium ten-speaker Bose audio system. To stay active on social media or check emails while on road trips, there's a convenient Wi-Fi hotspot in the cabin, and if you need to charge smartphones or laptops, there's a wireless charging option as well. Safety Every 2023 Traverse model comes with standard Chevy Safety Assist, a suite of hi-tech features that monitor driving conditions to keep you safe. Included in this group is Forward Collision Alert, which can notify you if you're about to collide with another vehicle in your path. If you don't react quickly, Automatic Emergency Braking can automatically stop the vehicle when seconds count. With the Following Distance Indicator, you can keep tabs on how many feet you are away from vehicles in front of you, while the IntelliBeam Auto High Beams automatically switch from high to low beams when other vehicles are approaching from the opposite direction. Thanks to its impressive versatility, comfortable cabin, and intelligent driver-assist features, the 2023 Traverse doubles as both the perfect everyday commuter vehicle and an adventure-seeking SUV. Come experience it for yourself and take it for a test drive by contacting us today at Glasscock Chevrolet.

5 Car Safety Features You'll Find on Today's Chevy Vehicles

5 Car Safety Features You'll Find on Today's Chevy Vehicles

No matter how carefully you drive, it's impossible to guarantee absolute road safety. That's why it's good to know that your car is assisting you with a helping hand and an extra pair of eyes behind the wheel. Read on for some of the car safety features that you can ask your Chevy dealer about. more 1. Automatic Emergency Braking Using camera technology, this system can detect when you're in danger of a collision with an obstacle or vehicle ahead of you. Using forward collision alert to issue a warning, it will apply the brakes to avoid or reduce the impact. Front pedestrian braking activates when you travel at speeds below 50mph, and offers the same combination of an alert and sharp automatic braking. 2. Rearview Enhancement Chevrolet's vehicles now come with a rear vision camera as either standard or available. This helps you to park or maneuver by showing you exactly what's behind the car when you reverse at low speeds. The rear camera mirror gives a wider, unobstructed view of the area behind your vehicle. 3. Intellibeam High Beam Assist Anyone who has used the high-beam headlights manually knows how easy it can be to dazzle oncoming drivers by forgetting to dim them in traffic. Chevy's automatic high beam assist takes away that mental load. It keeps the road safer by detecting traffic conditions and adjusting the headlights in response. 4. Greater Awareness There are also a host of systems designed to help you stay alert to your surroundings. Visual alerts on the side mirror let you know when an approaching vehicle is in your blind zone at the side.  It's also possible to use a tailgating alert if a vehicle behind is following too close. At low speeds, a rear cross-traffic alert lets you know when other vehicles might cross behind your vehicle, while a high-definition surround view displays a digital bird's eye view of the area around the car. 5. Adaptive Cruise Control This feature means that the car will automatically keep a gap time between you and the vehicle in front, reducing the need for frequent acceleration and braking. Once it's switched on, you can choose between a far, medium, or near gap setting depending on traffic, weather, and your driving preferences. Because the setting is based on time, the distance will increase with more speed. The Chevy Safety Assist package is a bundle of six of these features, including a following distance alert, and is available on all new Chevrolet vehicles. To find out more, or to experience these features in action on a test drive, visit us at Glasscock Chevrolet. Image courtesy of Chevrolet.com

4 Outstanding Features of the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD

4 Outstanding Features of the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD

As GM's best-selling vehicle, the Chevy Silverado is a familiar name for American truck enthusiasts. The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD is not a trim level, but rather a carryover of the 2021 Silverado being kept around for another year alongside the refreshed model. With so many outstanding features, it's easy to see why GM chose to keep this model in production. more 1. Plenty of Options for Bed and Cab Size Whether you need space for the whole family or just yourself, a few tools, or a much larger load, the Silverado LTD can be customized to suit those needs. The cab is available in three sizes: regular, extended, or crew cab. This allows it to seat anywhere from 3 to 6 passengers. Short, standard, and long beds are also available and allow for 62.9 cu-ft, 71.7 cu-ft, and 89.1 cu-ft of cargo volume, respectively. 2. Powerful Engine Options The Silverado 1500 can be equipped with one of four engine choices, each capable of delivering plenty of power. The base 2.7-liter, 4-cylinder engine can provide 310 horsepower. Also, two V8 engines are available: a 5.8L EcoTech3 V8 delivering 355 horsepower and a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 delivering 420 horsepower. There is also a 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel option, which brings 277 horsepower. The torque achieved by these engines rages from an ample 348 lb-ft of torque at the base all the way to an impressive 460 lb-ft of torque for both the 6.2L V8 and the diesel engine. The 6.2L V8 engine comes standard with a 4WD drivetrain, while all other engines have the option for 2WD or 4WD. 3. Safety Features Today's vehicles help us stay safe on the road with more automated safety features than ever before, and the Silverado is no exception. Drivers of the Silverado 1500 LTD can choose to equip it with a variety of safety features, including a rear vision camera, hill descent control, rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert, and trailer brake controller. 4. Technology for Towing One major advantage to driving a pickup truck is the ability to tow. With its optional camera for the towing system, the Silverado 1500 LTD makes it easier than ever to drive while towing. This system equips the truck with 15 different camera views, including the back of the truck, the back of the trailer, the connection, the sides of the vehicle, and more. This model can trailer up to 13,300 lbs. The Silverado 1500 has plenty of incredible features that have helped to keep it a best-seller for GM as well as a household name. Stop by Glasscock Chevrolet today to experience one for yourself.