Jay's Roadside Guide
Jump Start 101 Guide
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1. Grab a set of Jumper cables
Grab a set of jumper cables and find a vehicle with a working battery. 2. Connect the Cables Properly
• It doesn't matter which car you connect first. • Match colors to polarity: 🔴 Red = Positive (+) ⚫ Black = Negative (–) • IMPORTANT: Connect the ground (black/negative) cable last—and attach it to a clean, unpainted metal part on the engine (away from the battery). 💥 It might spark – this is normal –but that’s why it should be away from the battery. 3. Charge It Up
Start the car with the good battery and let it run for 10–15 minutes. • This charges the dead battery. • ⚠️ Turn off all electrical accessories (lights, AC, radio) in both vehicles to prevent a voltage spike. 4. Start the Dead Vehicle
Once it starts, leave the cables connected for 2–5 more minutes to stabilize the electrical system. 5. Disconnect Safely
• Remove the black/negative cable from the engine first (to avoid sparks near the battery). • Then remove the remaining cables. |
Change a Flat Tire Guide
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1. Know your car
Before you have a flat, make sure you KNOW your car. (The Car Geek always wants you to KNOW your car). Does it have a spare tire and jack? Or an air compressor? Check spare air pressure every oil change or at least annually. 2. ITems you will need
1. Jack 2. Tire Iron/Lug Wrench 3. Blocks of wood for wheel chock and Jack (flat and tire blockers) 4. Spare Tire 5. Tire Pressure Gauge 6. Gloves (optional) 3. find a safe location
• Pull over to a flat, stable, and safe area away from traffic. • Turn on your hazard lights. • Don’t apply the parking brake. The blocks of wood are to secure the car from rolling. If you have an older vehicle and the parking brake isn’t used regularly, there is a potential of the cables sticking due to water getting in them and rusting, causing them to stick when the brake is applied. 3. Secure the Vehicle
Place wheel wedges in front of or behind the tires opposite the flat to prevent rolling. 4. Get Your Tools Ready
Retrieve the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench from the trunk (check under the floor panel). 5. Loosen the Lug Nuts (Don’t Remove Yet)
• Use the lug wrench to turn each lug nut counterclockwise or left. • Loosen them just enough to break resistance (¼ to ½ turn). Do not remove them yet. 6. Position the Jack
• Refer to your owner’s manual to find the correct jack point (usually behind the front tire or in front of the rear tire on the car’s frame). • Now is the time to use the flat piece of wood for a better base for your jack on soft ground. • Place the jack under the vehicle and raise it until the flat tire is about just off the ground. Don’t raise your vehicle too high as the factory jacks aren’t super stable. 7. Remove the Flat Tire
• Now, fully unscrew and remove the lug nuts. • Carefully pull the flat tire straight off and set it aside flat on the ground face up (to avoid damaging the finish) and to avoid it rolling away. 8. Mount the Spare Tire
• Line up the holes and slide the spare tire onto the wheel bolts. • Turn the hub so as one of the studs is at the 12 o clock position to ease the installation of the spare wheel. • Screw on the lug nuts by hand as much as you can. 9. Tighten the Lug Nuts (Partially)
Use the lug wrench to snug the lug nuts in a crisscross pattern (like a star) -- don’t fully tighten yet. 10. Gently Lower the Vehicle
• Use the jack to slowly lower the car until the spare just touches the ground (not full weight). • Tighten the lug nuts firmly in the crisscross pattern. 11. Fully Lower and Remove the Jack
Once the lug nuts are tight, fully lower the car to the ground and remove the jack. 12. Fully Tighten the Lug Nuts
Give each lug nut one final firm tightening, again in a crisscross pattern. 13. final steps
• Double-check all lug nuts are secure. • Stow your tools and flat tire in the trunk. • Check the spares tire pressure (if possible). • Drive cautiously — most spares are “donut” tires and not rated for high speed or long distances. |