Everyone dreads that moment when you turn the key in the ignition and nothing happens. You try again, but your Toyota Tacoma, Highlander, or Camry doesn’t make a sound and refuses to start. It’s easier than you might think to jump-start a car. All you need is jumper cables and a working vehicle with a good battery. Follow the five easy steps below, and you’ll be back on the road and driving around Frederick, MD, in a flash.
Find a Car With a Good Battery
The first thing is to find someone whose car has a good battery to help you jump-start your car. Park the working car in front of your vehicle or next to it. You need the cars close, without touching, to ensure the jumper cables will reach. Switch both vehicles off.
Attach the Jumper’s Red Clamps
Get your jumper cables out of the trunk and attach the positive cable with the red clamp to your battery’s positive terminal. You will see the letters POS or a plus sign on the positive terminal. Attach the other red clamp to the working car’s positive battery terminal.
Attach the Jumper’s Black Clamps
Attach the negative cable’s black clamp to the working car’s negative battery terminal. Attach the other black clamp to your vehicle on an unpainted metal surface far from the battery and not to your own battery’s negative terminal.
Start the Working Car
Start the working car with the good battery, and then start your vehicle. Allow the engine to run for a while to charge your battery, and remove the cables in reverse order. Start by removing the black clamp from the unpainted metal surface on your car, then the other black clamp from the other vehicle’s negative terminal.
Remove the red clamp from the other vehicle’s positive terminal and then from your own car’s positive terminal. Drive your vehicle for at least twenty minutes to ensure the battery is fully charged before switching off the engine.
What To Do if Your Car Doesn’t Start
If you tried to jump-start your car and are still struggling to get your vehicle going, check the jumper cables. Check that the clips are attached correctly and connected securely. Keep the working vehicle running for another five minutes and try to start your car again. If your car’s battery is still good, your car should start. If you struggle to start the engine, you need a new battery.
If you have to jump-start your Toyota more than once over a short period, it’s best to replace the battery as soon as possible to avoid getting stranded next to the road. Stop at DARCARS Toyota of Frederick today if you have battery issues or schedule a service online now. Our qualified Toyota technicians perform battery tests, and if you need a replacement, we stock top-quality, dependable, long-lasting batteries.
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