A dead car battery is a considerable inconvenience, and this situation always seems to come up when you're in a big hurry. If you find yourself in a situation where your engine won't start, and you suspect it's because of a dead battery, here are some steps that will help you safely jumpstart your vehicle. Thanks to Reliable Nissan, you'll be back on your way in no time!
- You'll need to find another vehicle owner that is willing to help you out. They need to have the same type of vehicle as you, whether it's a gas-powered engine, hybrid or electric.
- Place your vehicle nose to nose with the other vehicle. Your engines need to be off before starting the hookup process.
- Take your jumper cables and attach the red cable to the battery's positive terminal. The battery usually has a + sign on it, indicating that it is the positive hookup.
- The other end of the red cable should be attached to the positive terminal on the vehicle assisting you.
- The black cable should be hooked up to the negative terminal on the live battery.
- The other end of the black cable should be attached to your vehicle's metal surface. The metal struts of the hood are a common area that people use. Just make sure the area isn't painted.
- The live battery vehicle should start up its engine once everything has been hooked up correctly. Let it run for several minutes before proceeding.
- You can then turn on your vehicle. If your car starts up, that means that your battery is still functioning; it just didn't have an appropriate charge to start on its own. If nothing happens, then your battery is no longer holding a charge. It's time to purchase a replacement that will be more reliable in the future.
- Once your vehicle is running, leave it running for at least 15 to 20 minutes before turning it off.
If you still need assistance with your vehicle's battery, contact Reliable Nissan for assistance. Our service department can determine your battery's condition, and we can help you pick out a new battery if needed.