Contents
How to Jumpstart an Automatic Transmission Car
Introduction
If your automatic transmission car won’t start, it can be a frustrating experience. But don’t worry, it’s usually not a major problem and you can often jumpstart it yourself.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to jumpstart an automatic transmission car. We’ll also provide some troubleshooting tips in case you run into any problems.
What You’ll Need
- A pair of jumper cables
- Another car with a good battery
Safety Precautions
- Always wear safety glasses when working with jumper cables.
- Never smoke or work near open flames when working with jumper cables.
- Make sure the cars are parked in a well-ventilated area.
- Turn off the engines of both cars before connecting the jumper cables.
- Connect the jumper cables in the correct order (positive to positive, negative to negative).
- Do not touch the metal clamps on the jumper cables while they are connected.
- Once the cars are connected, start the engine of the donor car and let it run for a few minutes.
- Start the engine of the dead car and let it run for a few minutes.
- Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order of how you connected them (negative to negative, positive to positive).
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Park the two cars so that they are facing each other.
- Turn off the engines of both cars.
- Open the hoods of both cars.
- Locate the battery terminals on both cars. The positive terminal is usually marked with a red (+) sign, and the negative terminal is usually marked with a black (-) sign.
- Connect one end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal of the donor car.
- Connect the other end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead car.
- Connect one end of the negative jumper cable to the negative terminal of the donor car.
- Connect the other end of the negative jumper cable to an unpainted metal surface on the dead car. Do not connect it to the negative terminal of the battery.
- Start the engine of the donor car and let it run for a few minutes.
- Start the engine of the dead car. If the engine does not start immediately, try revving the engine of the donor car a little bit.
- Once the engine of the dead car is running, let it run for a few minutes to recharge the battery.
- Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order of how you connected them (negative to negative, positive to positive).
Troubleshooting
- If the engine of the dead car does not start after you have connected the jumper cables, check to make sure that the cables are connected properly.
- If the engine of the dead car starts but then dies after you disconnect the jumper cables, the battery may be too weak to hold a charge. You may need to replace the battery.
- If you are having trouble connecting the jumper cables to the battery terminals, try cleaning the terminals with a wire brush.
Conclusion
Jumping an automatic transmission car is a relatively simple process. By following the steps in this article, you can jumpstart your car and get back on the road in no time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact a qualified mechanic.
