A dead battery doesn’t always require drivers to take their vehicle in for Mercedes-Benz service — they can usually be remedied with only a set of jumper cables and another vehicle that can spare a charge. If you have yet to perform your first jump-start, this guide is for you. Here are three steps you should take to get your vehicle back out on the road again.
Position Donor Vehicle
The first step is to position the vehicle that will be providing the charge for your dead battery, also known as the ‘booster vehicle.’ Navigate it into an adjacent position that is close enough for your jumper cables to reach without crossing. You’ll want to position it close enough for the cables to not be taut, but with enough room for you to fit in between the two vehicles as the next step will require you to have access to both engine blocks.
Connect Jumper Cables
This part is where caution needs to be exercised. Connect the red cable to the dead battery’s positive terminal first, then connect the other end to the booster battery’s positive terminal. Then connect one end of the black cable to the donor battery’s negative terminal and connect the other end to an unpainted metal surface on your vehicle, such as the engine block. Connecting this end directly to the dead battery’s negative terminal can cause serious injury, so be sure to identify the grounding component and connect the negative cable accordingly!
Recharge Your Battery
Once the cables are securely connected, start up the booster vehicle to begin charging. You’re going to need to idle the donor vehicle for a few minutes before attempting to start the recipient vehicle. Once the recipient vehicle can be started, let it idle for a few minutes to fully restore the dead battery’s charge. Once charged, carefully disconnect the cables in reverse order while leaving both vehicles running. Keep your car running for at least 15 minutes to ensure the charge holds and be on your way!
Visit Mercedes-Benz of Orange Park for Battery Service
Should your vehicle require frequent jump-starts, this could be indicative of a larger issue at play. Scheduling your visit to the Mercedes-Benz of Orange Park service center will allow our team of certified technicians to get to the bottom of the issue, so be sure to schedule your visit online today!
