How to Jump-Start a Car in Tifton, GA

Nobody likes to deal with a dead battery, especially if you’re in a rush. Some of the common culprits of a dead battery could be leaving on car lights, extreme outdoor temperatures and undiagnosed vehicle problems. To make this situation a little less stressful, Griffin Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Tifton has your back. We’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to jump-start your car. To get started, you just need some jumper cables and a trusted friend. After you’re done reading, you’ll be a pro at re-charging your ride!

Before jump-starting, double check:

Your battery.

Never jump-start a leaking, damaged, frozen or corroded battery — this is a major safety hazard. If you ever suspect that your battery is compromised, call our service department and we’ll help you take care of it.

For metal objects and open flames.

Remove any tools, phones, watches, jewelry or cigarettes that are near the battery — you want to keep the sparks inside the engine, not outside.

Your key.

Remove it from the ignition and keep it in a safe place.

Your owner’s manual.

Always check the section in your manual on how to jump-start your battery before you begin.

The battery voltage.

Make sure that both cars have the same voltage. Many cars have 12-volt batteries, while some use a six-volt battery. Never jump-start your vehicle with a car that has a higher battery voltage.

When you’re ready to jump-start your car, follow these tips:

1. Prepare both cars. Park the donor car in close proximity to yours and put both vehicles in park or neutral. Then, turn them off and engage the parking brake. While you want the cars close, make sure they aren’t physically touching each other.
2. Get your jumper cables ready. These will have four alligator clips, two on each end. They’re also color coded so that the red ones are positive and the black ones are negative. Here is the specific order in which you need to attach them to the cars:

1. RED to DEAD: Connect one of the red clips to the positive (+) terminal on your dead battery.
2. RED to DONOR: Connect the other red clip to the positive (+) terminal on the donor vehicle’s battery.
3. BLACK to DONOR: On the SAME CAR, connect one of the black clips to the negative (-) terminal on the donor vehicle’s battery.
4. BLACK to METAL: Now, back to the dead battery. Connect the other black clip to bare metal that is not next to the battery. This can be an unpainted metal bolt or bracket.

3. Start the donor car and let it run for one to two minutes.
4. Then, try to start the car with the dead battery.

1. If it turns on, let it run for one to two minutes and you can celebrate. This period lets the battery recharge, as power will travel along the jumper cables and into your battery.
2. Conversely, if it won’t start, you may need to be patient a little longer to let the battery continue to charge. However, if you’ve already tried multiple times to no avail, it could be a sign that you have a bigger problem on your hands that needs to be fixed by a professional. Schedule a service appointment with our technicians today and we’ll be happy to assist you!

5. Without turning your car off, remove the cables in reverse order from how you put them on.
6. Drive your vehicle for 30 minutes. This will help the battery retain the charge so it can start up properly next time.