MAZDA Service Tips: Jump-Starting Your Car

A dead car battery is a situation that you can find yourself in out of the blue. It can leave you stuck in a parking lot or put you at risk of missing work. Here’s a guide on how to jump-start a car. Once your car engine roars back to life, bring the vehicle to our Mazda service center so we can check your battery.

Car Jump-Start: The Basics

First, we recommend that all car owners have a car emergency kit in their trunk, which should contain basic jumper cables. You’ll also need a second functional vehicle. Here’s how you use these cables.

1. Park the functional vehicle nose-to-nose with your vehicle
2. Locate the battery terminals with a positive (+) and (-) sign
3. Connect both ends of the red cable to the positive terminal of each vehicle
4. Connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the working car
5. Connect the other end of the black terminal to a bare metal piece, such as a deadbolt, of the car with the dead battery
6. Start your car. If the issue is indeed the battery, then the engine should roar to life

What to Do Next

Keep in mind that once your car starts, it’s likely only good for a single trip. Once you turn the engine off, it’s likely the car won’t start again. This is why it’s recommended that you use the occasion to drive to a dealership for repairs rather than driving straight home. If you do the latter, you’ll have to jump-start the vehicle again or have it towed to a service center.

For your next vehicle checkup, visit Superior Mazda. We perform voltage checks, recharging, and OEM Mazda part replacements. Schedule an appointment online today!