MAZDA Service Tips: How to Jumpstart Your Car

Now that things have gotten cold in Bentonville, it’s time to think about your car’s battery. Batteries can struggle in low temperatures – especially if they’re on the older side – so it’s a good idea to know how to get yours started if it needs some assistance. This guide from our Mazda service will help:

Jumpstart Your Car in Four Steps

Jumpstarting a car can actually be pretty easy, and it involves these steps:

1. Get a Car and Cables

The first thing you need to do is to find a working car and your jumper cables. Drive up close enough to the non-working car so that the cables will connect to both.

2. Red to Dead

Next turn the car off and open both hoods. Connect the red clip of a cable to the positive terminal (+) on the dead battery. Attach the other end to the positive terminal on the battery that works.

3. Black to Neg

Now, take the black clip and attach it to the negative terminal (–) on that working battery. Then, connect the other end to the hood strut or another unpainted surface away from the battery.

4. Fire it Up

Next, start the car with the working battery. Let it run for a little while. Then, start the other car. If thing go as planned, the dead battery should come to life. Let this one run for a while as well and disconnect the cables. To get that battery fully charged, be sure to keep the engine on for 20 to 30 minutes.

Your battery should now be fine. If, however, it doesn’t take long before it needs another jump, it probably should be replaced. To get a new battery, just make an appointment with the service center at Superior Mazda.