A Beginner’s Guide on How to Boost Your Car

Have you ever had your car battery die in the cold? It can happen when you're in a hurry or after a long day. Knowing how to jump-start your car can get you going again quicker than waiting for help. Let's learn how to do it safely.

What You’ll Need to Boost Your Car?

To jump-start your car, you'll need a few things: jumper cables, a helpful person, and another car with a working battery. It's easier to find someone to help you than to find cables in an emergency, so keep them in your trunk. You never know when you'll need them.

The dead car is the one that needs the jump. The donor car is the one that's helping. Jumper cables are super important because they transfer power between the batteries. The posts on the batteries are where the cables connect.

Jumper Cables for Boosting Cars

Think of the red color on your jumper cables as a good thing. Connect the red clamps to the positive posts on both batteries. Also, there's a black clamp. Connect it to the negative post on the donor car and the metal on the dead car.

Tip: write this down and keep it with your cables so you don't forget.

Safety Tips When Boosting Your Car

Before you start jumping your car, remember these safety tips: Both cars should be in park mode, and the one giving the boost should be turned off. And never let the clamp heads touch each other. Pay attention to these safety rules before you connect the cables and try to start your car.

Sparks

Even if a car battery seems dead, it still has some power. The donor car has plenty of power, so be careful not to cause a spark by mishandling the cables. It's also smart to keep safety glasses in your car. They'll protect your eyes in case sparks fly.

Damage

Connecting cables the wrong way can be dangerous and ruin expensive electronics. So, be careful and take your time.

Acid

Car batteries use a mix of acid and water to store power. Be super careful with any stuff from the battery getting on your hands or clothes, especially that powdery white or light green stuff near the terminals where you'll connect the cables.

Now that you know how your cables work, you have them and a friend ready, follow these steps carefully to jump-start your car.

Step 1: Connect red to dead + (positive battery terminal)

Step 2: Connect red to donor + (positive battery terminal)

Step 3: Connect black to donor – (negative battery terminal)

Step 4: Connect black to dead, bare metal

Step 5: Start donor vehicle

Step 6: Start dead vehicle

Step 7: Disconnect in reverse (steps 4,3,2,1)

In case the vehicle isn’t still starting, you should call a towing service like My Big Tow in Edmonton. They’ll help you take your car to a workshop for a proper checkup.

For more info, call us now or visit our website at www.mybigtow.ca.