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MAZDA Service 101: Can You Jump a Car in the Cold

Jumping Mazda

When the winter months start to roll in, you may be asking yourself “Can you jump a car in the cold?”. While colder weather has a major effect on battery life and performance, you can still easily restart your vehicle’s battery by following these steps from our certified service team. To learn more, visit us at Sansone Mazda today.

How Does Cold Weather Affect Car Batteries?

There are several reasons why cold weather is so damaging to the battery inside your vehicle. In cold weather, your vehicle requires more energy to start and warm up; this means it also loses a part of its maximum capacity and works less efficiently. Lower temperatures also cause your battery to recharge at a slower rate.

Using any of your other Mazda parts, such as the windshield wipers or heating system, also puts additional strain on your battery. Since snow and harsh weather are expected, you’re using these components much more frequently. Engine oil also thickens when the weather gets colder, causing unneeded strain on your battery as the engine cranks.

How to Jump Start Your Battery in the Cold

If your battery ends up dying during the winter months, the only option is to get a jump start at our Mazda service center or from another person with a working vehicle. A modern jump pack can be helpful if you frequently need to start your vehicle during cold weather, but most people opt to use simple jumper cables. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Turn off the ignition of both vehicles and engage the emergency brakes.
  2. Open the hood and locate the battery terminals.
  3. Check your owner’s manual to see how to appropriately attach the jumper cable clamps.
  4. Start the engine of the functioning vehicle, then crank the engine of the other car.
  5. Once the vehicle starts, you can disconnect the cables and drive it for at least 20 minutes to recharge the battery completely.

Visit Us in Woodbridge, NJ, For Jump-Start Assistance Today

If you have any further questions about how to jump-start your car, contact our Woodbridge, NJ, Mazda dealership. We have a team of service technicians who will be more than ready to explain the process to you in detail. Stop by today or schedule an appointment to learn more!