Jump-starting a car is an all-too-common chore that almost every driver will experience. Much of the time, car batteries become weak due to cold temperatures, but here in Arizona, we don’t generally get that winter chill (although things have been different lately). Regardless, batteries need to be jumped for more reasons than the cold. Old batteries can get too weak and need a jump no matter how warm or cold it is outside. Keep reading to get a step-by-step list of how to jump-start your Nissan.
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Get jumper cables
Before anything else, make sure you have jumper cables. Every car owner should have cables in their trunk so they don’t have to rely on others to have the equipment. A set of jumper cables can be found at any auto store, usually for $20 or less.
Park another car’s hood facing your hood
You will need another car in order to jump-start your battery. Call a friend or ask a neighbor. If they’re even remotely good, they will help you. Have the cars facing each other head on with each hood open. For extra safety, engage both parking brakes. Make sure both cars are turned off.
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Attach clips
Attach one of the red clips to the positive end of your battery. It should be labeled with a plus sign (+) or “POS”. If the label is worn, the positive terminal is the larger of the two. After that, attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on the other car’s battery and as well as the other red clip to the other battery’s positive end. Lastly, attach the final black clip to an unpainted metal surface on your car.
Turn on the other vehicle
Have your friend or accomplice start their vehicle. Let the engine run for a few minutes so your battery can be sufficiently charged.
Try starting your car
Turn your car on. If you did everything correctly, your car should start as if there was never a problem. Now, if it doesn’t start, make sure your cables are properly connected. If they are, have the other car stay on for longer. If your car still won’t start, it may mean that you have a more serious battery problem.
Remove cables
If your car does indeed start again, remove all clips and stow away the jumper cables. Congratulations, you have jump-started your Mazda!
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