How to Jump Start Your Vehicle | Houston, TX

Getting stranded with a dead battery can be a frustrating experience, but knowing how to jump start your vehicle can save you time, money, and hassle! At Fred Haas Toyota Country in Houston, and near Tomball, Spring, and The Woodlands, TX, we’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge and tools they need to handle unexpected situations on the road.

Have the Right Materials

Before a potential situation like this ever happens, you need to be sure you have what you need! Make sure you have a good set of jumper cables on hand. You’ll also need another vehicle with a good battery. It is good to have someone you know who can come help if you’re ever stranded!

Position the Vehicles

Park the vehicles close enough to each other with both hoods close so that the jumper cables can reach both batteries comfortably. Make sure both vehicles are in park or neutral with the ignition turned off.

Look for the Terminals

Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals for each vehicle. They’ll either be marked red for positive and black for negative, or with a plus and minus sign. You’ll then connect the jumper cables by connecting one end of your positive cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery, and the other end to the positive terminal of the working battery. Then, connect one end of the black (negative) cable to the negative terminal of the working battery and place the other end on an unpainted metal surface of the dead battery car.

Start Functioning Vehicle

You’ll then want to start the working vehicle and give it a few minutes to charge the dead battery. 

Start Dead Vehicle

After a few minutes, try starting the vehicle with the dead battery. If it starts successfully, let it run for a few minutes to allow the battery to recharge. Then, disconnect the jumper cables and you’re good to go! It is best to drive the previously dead vehicle for a few minutes to get the battery recharged.

We hope this helped our Houston, Tomball, Spring, and The Woodlands, TX customers. Any questions can be directed to our service staff at (281) 738-1690. Schedule your next service appointment with us!