The Ultimate Guide to Jump Start a Vehicle in Winter
How to Jump Start Your Car Battery in Winter?
Cold weather is generally tough on your vehicle, especially if it is parked outside in the cold. As a whole, freezing temperatures hit the car battery more than any other component or part of a vehicle. Moreover, in winter, batteries lose their charger faster and more significantly than usual due to condensation. A car battery can have a very difficult time delivering enough power to start a vehicle in the cold. If your car battery isn’t able to generate enough power, it will not be able to start your vehicle, and you’ll be stuck with a dead battery. But, if you know what to do and how to handle the situation, you can start your vehicle in no time. Learn how you can bring your battery back to life from our experienced technicians at Terra Nova GMC Buick.
[ALSO READ: Why is Checking Antifreeze Levels Important During Winter?]
Step-by-Step Guide to Jump Start Your Dead Car Battery
Below are some expert-recommended steps that can help you safely jump start a dead car battery, helping you get back on the road running without any hiccups.
Step 1: Open your car’s hood and check the battery cables to ensure they are all connected and secured. If they are connected and your vehicle does not start, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Park another car beside the vehicle with the dead battery. Once parked, turn off the engines of both vehicles.
Step 3: Pull out jumper cables and connect them to the terminals of the vehicle that can start or operate properly, with one end clamping to the positive terminal and one to the negative terminal. Repeat this step by connecting the other ends of your jumper cables to the vehicle with the dead car battery. When connecting the wires from one vehicle to the other, please make sure to follow the rule of ‘positive to positive and negative to negative.’
Step 4: Turn on the engine of the vehicle that can start and let it run for a couple of minutes to help charge up the other vehicle’s dead car battery. After a few minutes, hop into the vehicle with the dead car battery and turn on the engine. If it starts, you’re ready to go and can now disconnect the jumper cables from both batteries. If it does not start, repeat this step and give it a few more minutes before trying again.
Please note that even after repeating Step 4 a couple of times, you cannot start your dead car battery. You should take your car to a service centre for an inspection and consider replacing the dead battery with a new one.
Learn More About Winter Auto Preparedness at Terra Nova GMC Buick
Learn more such winter auto preparedness tips from our experts at Terra Nova GMC Buick, helping you enjoy the optimal performance of your vehicle, even in freezing temperatures. If you want to book a service appointment or learn more about our diverse range of auto services, please call us at 800-463-4130 or visit our dealership at 595 Kenmount Road, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and our team will be happy to assist you.