Glendale Nissan Official Blog

Dead batteries happen, even to the most careful driver. At Glendale Nissan, we put together this Nissan jumpstart guide so you can get moving again without waiting for a tow truck. Follow the steps below, and you will know exactly how to jumpstart a Nissan in a few minutes.

Gather Your Gear

You need a few basics before you touch the battery.

• A fresh set of heavy-gauge jumper cables.
• A helper vehicle or portable jump pack.
• Gloves and eye protection.

Set both vehicles in Park, engage the parking brakes, and switch off every accessory. This simple prep prevents sparks and keeps the process steady.

Safely Connect the Cables

Open the hood and find the positive terminal. Most modern Nissans place the 12-volt battery on the passenger side of the engine bay, covered by a red cap. On hybrids like the older Altima Hybrid, use the under-hood jump post instead of the trunk battery.

1. Clamp red to the dead battery’s positive post.
2. Clamp the other red to the booster battery’s positive post.
3. Clamp black to the booster’s negative post.
4. Clamp the final black to an unpainted metal surface on the stalled Nissan.

Make sure clamps sit tight and clear of pulleys or fans. Now start the helper vehicle and let it run for two minutes. This short wait gives your battery a fighting chance the first time you turn the key.

Start Up and Remove the Leads

Slide into the driver’s seat, press the brake, and start the engine. If it refuses to crank, wait another minute before trying again. Once it fires, let it idle while you remove the cables in reverse order—black from the Nissan’s ground, black from the donor, red from the donor, red from the Nissan. 

Keep clamps apart so they never touch.

Recharge and Check the Battery

Leave the engine running for at least fifteen minutes or take a short drive. This recharge helps the alternator bring the battery back to a healthy state. For added peace of mind, schedule a free battery diagnosis. Our technicians will test voltage, load capacity, and charging rate. A quick check today may save a morning rush-hour surprise later.

Need More Help? We Are Close By

If your car still struggles or the battery light stays on, visit our service center in Glendale Heights. We keep genuine Nissan batteries in stock, and our team has years of experience with Altima, Rogue, Pathfinder, Leaf, and every model in between. 

Questions before you drive over? Reach out to our team. We answer fast and speak both English and Spanish for our diverse Chicagoland neighbors.

Drive On With Peace of Mind

Learning how to jumpstart a car is a smart skill that pays off the first time a dome light drains your battery overnight. Keep a set of cables in the trunk, remember the correct clamp order, and lean on us for anything you cannot tackle in the driveway. Follow these steps, and you’ll be back on the road in no time.

Sharing is caring!

More from Glendale Nissan

Here’s What to Pack in Your Nissan Car Tool Kit

How to Buy a Car: Glendale Nissan’s First Time Car Buyer Guide