How to Jump-Start a Car

When you’re out and about in Raleigh, the last thing you want is your Buick or GMC not starting. In situations like this, you will most likely need a jump-start or car battery service. Learn how to jump-start a car from the service experts at Hendrick Buick GMC Cary, so you can be prepared when the best happens to us. After learning how to properly jump-start a car yourself, you won’t have to rely on a jump-start car service!

How to Properly Jump-Start a Car?

Have a set of jumper cables and access to another car ready. You are also free to call a jump-start car service, such as AAA, for assistance near Holly Springs. For the proper way to jump-start a car, take a look at the following steps:

1. Park the car with a good battery facing the other car. Ensure both parking brakes are engaged.
2. Pop open both hoods and find the batteries. You might have to remove a plastic hood to see the battery terminals.
3. Identify the positive and negative terminals. Check to see if they’re clean and free of any corrosion.
4. Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
5. Uncoiling the battery cable, hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
6. Connect the black clamp to the negative post on the good battery.
7. Connect the final clamp to an unpainted metal surface on your vehicle’s frame.
8. After everything is hooked up securely, start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery first and then start the one with the dead battery.
9. Once the dead vehicle has been jump-started, carefully remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were placed on. Afterward, turn off the car that was used to help jump-start the dead car.
10. Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 minutes to make sure that the weak battery won’t die again instantly. Check your owner’s manual for more details on the recommended times.

Jump-Start Car Service With Buick & GMC Roadside Assistance

Whether your Buick or GMC vehicle is still under a limited warranty period or not, you can still access Roadside Assistance. If your vehicle has an active OnStar® subscription, you can just press the blue button. For vehicles without a subscription, you will have to call 800.462.8782 for GMC vehicles or 800.252.1112 for Buick vehicles. Here are the Roadside Assistance services offered:

• Battery jump start
• Towing to the nearest dealer
• Flat tire change
• Lockout service
• Emergency fuel delivery

Depending on when you purchased your Buick or GMC vehicle, the limited warranty period may still be active:

• For 2013 and newer Buick vehicles – Up to 6 years or 70,000 miles from the date of purchase whichever comes first
• For 2016 and newer GMC vehicles – Up to 5 years or 60,000 miles from the date of purchase whichever comes first

While your car is still being covered under the period, Roadside Assistance services will be covered regardless of who is driving the vehicle in the US.

What If My Car Won’t Jump-Start?

If you have followed through the steps of the proper way to jump-start your car and your car still won’t jump-start in Apex, then you might need a battery replacement or it could be indicating a more severe issue. Troubleshoot the problem by:

1. If you hear a clicking sound while you try to start the car, then the starter might not be working. To replace the starter, schedule service at Hendrick Buick GMC Cary.
2. What if the electrical systems of the car turn on, but the engine fails to turn over? Then, there could be several issues at hand, such as the ignition switch, battery, starter, or fuse. Because there are multiple possibilities, your best bet is to take your car to a local service center to figure out the exact issues.
3. Make sure you have your car running for a while or for the period of time that’s recommended according to your owner’s manual after the jump. Your car’s battery needs to recharge fully after it’s been drained!

If you have any further questions, be sure to contact us!

Find Certified Service at Hendrick Buick GMC Cary

Our service team is happy to give you more advice on how to keep your car up and running. For services that need an expert’s touch, count on us and we even have service offers as well as financing to help you save on your visits in Cary!