How to Jump the Battery of a Car in 6 Steps

Giving the battery a jump in your rental car from Ability Rent A Car is relatively simple. While it might seem overwhelming when the car won’t start, it’s important to remember not to panic. Instead, read through this step-by-step guide we’ve given you, so you jump the car correctly and can be back on the road to your destination.

Step 1: Find the Tools

For a successful jump of the car battery, you’re going to need a few things. First, make sure that you have all of the necessary tools. You will need jumper cables, a working car with a good battery, and something to safely secure the hoods of both cars (such as wooden blocks). 

Step 2: Position the Cars

Once you’ve got all your tools, you’ll want to position the vehicles so that they are either facing one another or are parked side-by-side. Jumper cables tend to be short, so you’ll want to make sure the batteries are as close as possible to one another. However, make sure the cars ARE NOT touching.

Step 3: Locate the Batteries

Once you have both hoods open, you’ll want to lay eyes on both batteries of each car. These are usually large, rectangular boxes with metal terminals on top. Then, you’ll need to identify the positive and negative terminals on both batteries. The positive terminal is usually marked with a “+” symbol and is usually red. The negative terminal is usually marked with a “-” symbol and is usually black.

Step 4: Connecting the Batteries

When you’re ready to connect the batteries, here is what you’ll do: Take one end of the red jumper cable and attach it to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Then, take the other end of the red cable and attach it to the positive terminal of the working battery. Next, take one end of the black jumper cable and attach it to the negative terminal of the working battery. Then, take the other end of the black cable and attach it to a metal part of the dead car’s engine (such as a bolt). Do not attach it to the negative terminal of the dead battery.

Step 5: Start the Working Car

Start the working car and let it run for a few minutes. This will allow the battery to charge and help jump-start the dead car. After a few moments, try starting the dead car. If it starts, allow it to run for a few minutes to charge the battery. If it does not start, you may need to repeat the process.

Step 6: Disconnect the Cables

Once the dead car is running, carefully remove the jumper cables in the reverse order in which you attached them. First, remove the black cable from the metal part of the dead car’s engine, then remove the black cable from the negative terminal of the working battery. Next, remove the red cable from the positive terminal of the working battery, and finally, remove the red cable from the positive terminal of the dead battery. Close the hoods of both cars, and you’re done!

We’ll Always Be Here For You

If ever you find yourself with a dead battery in your rental car, minivan, or SUV, make sure you give our office a call. Ability Rent A Car maintains our vehicles, but dead batteries can happen. However, you need not panic, as we can either walk you through the process or come to your rescue! So, if you’re traveling to Houston, TX, area any time soon, contact us a call at (713) 224-5489.