Cold weather & cars
The Upper Midwest is notoriously known for being one of the coldest places on Earth. Winter temperatures range anywhere from a mild 30 to 40 degrees, but can dip all the way down to -65 degrees (in extreme cases). These harsh temperatures can wreak havoc on your vehicle. Especially the electric power source of your vehicle, the battery. Car batteries are complex pieces of equipment, and in the extreme cold they can struggle to deliver power. In the cold, batteries lose essential cranking power.
Batteries that have been extensively used, can simply die, as they do not have enough internal “juice” to power your vehicle. This can be an especially frustrating situation, as we rely on our vehicles as an essential key to our daily lives. Dead batteries are something that we can never really predict when they will exactly occur, but if you encounter one, there are some steps to follow to ensure jump starting your vehicle is as effective, and as safe as possible.
Jay Turner explains how to jump start a car
The following procedure is tried and trusted, and Rydell Sales Consultant Jay Turner will explain to you how to properly jump start your vehicle using a conventional jumper cable set-up, as well as a jump box. In doing so, he will demonstrate how with the following steps:
- Locating the hood latch
- Opening the hood
- Locating the battery posts
- An overview of various jump start devices
- Place connectors on battery posts
- Starting the vehicle
- Safe removal of jump start devices
Anyone can jump start a vehicle
Every vehicle is equipped with a hood opening mechanism located under the hood. To access this latch, vehicles are equipped with a hood opening device located inside the vehicle, on the driver’s side. Typically, under the dash or on the floor, depending on the vehicle.
Once pulled, the hood latch will be accessible from the front of the vehicle. The partially propped hood will expose the external hood opening mechanism. Typically, a small latch that must be pulled to fully open the hood.
The battery of your vehicle is commonly located in the engine bay. Where it is located varies by manufacturer, so it is best to have the vehicle’s instruction manual handy, if unsure. Most batteries are exposed or covered by a protective plastic box. Once located, you’ll notice that the battery has two external posts. One with a “PLUS” and the other a “NEGATIVE”, they are also color coated to differentiate the two even further. These two posts are the essential power source that you will need to work with.
There are a variety of jump-starting devices out there, but the most common are the conventional jumper cable set-up, which utilizes a power cable and two ends, along with the use of another live vehicle’s battery; or the jump box device, which has an internal battery that delivers power to your vehicle directly. Both systems are tried and proven, but utilize similar components and procedures to use.
Both the jump box and the cables come with conductors that deliver power to your battery. The jump box will need to be turned on, to deliver power. The cables will need to be connected to another vehicle’s battery, to deliver power.
After you get your vehicle running, the power cables still have charge and can be dangerous to work with. It is best to remove the connection one piece at a time, and remove one end first, then the other in the scenario of using cable connectors. After starting, allow your vehicle to run for an extended amount of time, to ensure the battery can properly charge itself. If started, and turned off right away, the battery will lose its charge and die again.
We can help
Now that you know how to properly jump start a car, go forth and be confident. But, if you have more questions or continually have to jump start your car in the winter, stop by our Rydell Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Service Department or our Rydell Honda Nissan Service Department or give us a call at (701) 772-7211.
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