How to Jump Start Your Car After the Battery Dies

Emergency Jump Starts 317-247-8484

Emergency Jump Starts 317-247-8484

A dead battery is not the end of the world. A quick jump start is all you need to get back on the road and on with your day. By connecting to another car engine with a set of jumper cables, you can power up your battery long enough to get it home or to a professional shop for replacement. Once you have all the supplies needed, the whole process should only take a few minutes.

Continue reading to learn the simplest way to jump start a car after the battery goes dead.

❶ Check to Make Sure it’s the Battery

Try to turn on the head lights.

Check if the lights in the dashboard turn on when the keys are in the ignition.

Try to start the car:

If it cranks quickly, it’s not the battery.
If it cranks slowly, it’s perhaps the battery.

❷ Locate the Battery

Most the time it is under the hood, however, it may be in the trunk. If you can’t find it, refer to the owner’s manual.

Identify the positive and negative terminals:

(+) is usually red
(-) is usually black

❸ Park the Cars Near Each Other So That the Jumper Cables Can Reach Both Batteries

Make sure the ignitions are off before the next step.

Make sure the cars are not touching each other.

❹ Be Sure Both Cable and Terminals are Clear of Debris and Corrosion

Remove corrosion scrap with a wire brush.

❺ Connect the Jumper Cables in the Following Order:

Connect the (+) red clamp to the dead battery;
Connect the other (+) red clamp to the good battery;
Connect the (-) black clamp to the good battery;
Connect the (-) black clamp to metal on the dead car, it could be a bolt.

❻ Make Sure the Cables are Not Tangled in the Car

❼ Start the Helper Car

Gently apply and release pressure to the gas for at least 30 seconds.

❽ After a Minute, Try to Start the Dead Battery Car

If the car does not start, check the cable connections and let the cars charge for at least five minutes before trying to start the dead car again.

❾ If the Car Still Does Not Start, You May Need to Get a Tow

❿ If the Car Does Start, Remove the Cables in the Following Order:

Disconnect the (-) black clamp on the metal on the dead car
Disconnect the (-) black clamp to the good battery
Disconnect the other (+) red clamp to the good battery
Disconnect the (+) red clamp to the dead battery
Replace rubber battery covers if applicable

⓫ Run the Recently Dead Car for at Least 10 Minutes to Allow the Alternator to Charge the Battery

It is important to have an emergency roadside assistance kit in your vehicle at all times for situations like this. Having essential safety materials and supplies on hand when you are stranded on the side of the road will help you with your car troubles, and more importantly, protect you from harm or danger.

If your vehicle is broken down and requires a tow, be sure to contact an experienced and trusted Indianapolis towing company that provides 24 hour roadside assistance. They may be able to service your car and eliminate the need for a tow. If they cannot solve your car problem, they can tow it to your location of choice.

Emergency Roadside Assistance and Towing

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 anytime to request professional and dependable roadside assistance anywhere in Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. Request a free estimate, today.

Promote Safer Stopping with Trailer Brake Controllers

If you own a small, light-weight trailer, your hauling vehicle is all you need for controlling the brakes while towing. Smaller trailers only have one or two axels that roll freely, eliminating the need for any extra assistance. But if you have a large or heavy trailer, your towing vehicle’s brake system won’t cut it alone. Larger trailers require their own set of brakes for safe and proper towing and stopping. This is achievable with trailer brake controllers. Continue reading to learn about trailer brake controllers, and how to decide which ones are best for your towing trailer.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Trailer Brakes

Trailer brake controllers are interfaced with your vehicle’s brake pedal, which makes your tires slow down all at the same time. This allows you to maneuver and stop smoothly when towing your rig. The trailer brake controllers work by signaling to the trailer brakes to engage and to what degree. The trailer brakes then mimic the brake pressure you apply as you stop or slow down your vehicle.

There are a few different designs of trailer brake controllers on the market to choose from when shopping around. The one you choose will depend on your trailers size, weight, brake system, and towing habits. It is important to learn as much as you can about each one in order to make an educated decision for your particular rig. These are not cheap parts to buy, so making the right choice is something you want to take seriously.

Here are some examples of trailer brake controllers:

Tow Vehicle Braking Systems – These are designed for recreational vehicles, like motorhomes, that need to tow or pull a car. This is only intended for flat-towing a car, not towing with a dolly or trailer. Electric pistons actually push the towed vehicle’s brake pedals down as the towing vehicle’s brakes are engaged.

Timed Brake Controllers – These systems are the simple, economical option for controlling a trailers brakes. They simply slow all tires down at the same time as the brake pedal is engaged inside the towing vehicle.

Inertia Brake Controllers – These are sturdier and more responsive compared to timed brake controllers. Inside inertia controllers, there are sensors that are attached to an outer pendulum that detect the deceleration of the towing vehicle.

Accelerometer Brake Controllers – Also called proportional brake controllers, these systems only use internal sensors, not attached to outer pendulums, to detect the brake pedal pressure in the towing vehicle. These are recommended for long distance towing.

For heavy-duty towing needs, you may be better off calling a trusted Indianapolis towing company for professional assistance. They will have advanced equipment and technologies to provide wrecker services for all freight sizes, quantities, and distances.

Indianapolis Tow Truck Assistance

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 if your car was towed, or you need a tow, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed and insured tow truck operators provide punctual and prompt tow truck services, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! Contact us at 317-247-8484 to request a free estimate, anytime.