How to Jump Start a Dodge Stratus
by Jody L. CampbellIn case you do not already know, the battery for your Dodge Stratus is not accessible through the engine compartment. It is located in the driver's side front wheel well. However, you do not need to access the battery in order to jump start the Stratus in the event the battery dies. There are jump posts located in the engine compartment on top of the battery panel, and you can access these posts in the engine compartment. Jump starting your Stratus is just as easy as any other car with a battery that is located in the engine compartment.
Step 1
Open the hood to the Dodge Stratus and locate the positive and negative jump post locations. They'll be on the driver's side of the engine compartment and will have a red plastic cap and cover for the positive jump post and a black cap and cover for the negative jump post. They will also be marked appropriately with the "+ and -" insignia on top of the caps. Remove both caps to expose the post and nut of the jump post.
Step 2
Take the jumper cables and separate the clamps to make sure they do not come into contact with one another during the connecting procedure. Have the assisting car pull up alongside the Stratus in reach of the jumper cables to access their battery or jump posts to yours.
Step 3
Attach the red (positive) clamp of the jumper cable to the battery positive post of the assisting car first. Then attach the black (negative) clamp of the jumper cable to the battery negative post of the assisting car. There will be stamped insignias "+ and -" on the battery housing to determine the positive and negative terminals.
Step 4
Be careful now that the remaining clamps are "live" from the power of the assisting car's battery not to allow them to contact one another. Attach the remaining red clamp of the jumper cable to the red positive jump post of the Dodge Stratus. Attach the remaining black clamp to the black negative jump post of the Dodge Stratus.
Step 5
Start the engine of the Dodge Stratus. It may take a few minutes to charge the battery up to be successful to start, depending on how dead the battery is. You may have to start and run the assisting car in order to transfer more power to the dead battery of the Stratus.
Step 6
Remove the black clamp of the jumper cable from the Stratus first after it starts, while it's still running. Then, remove the red clamp of the jumper cable from the Stratus. Be sure to not allow the clamps to contact one another.
Step 7
Remove the black clamp of the jumper cable from the battery of the assisting car first and then the red clamp of the jumper cable. Replace the jumper cables. Close the hood of the assisting car. Replace the caps on the jump posts in the Stratus and close the hood.
Step 8
Remove the black clamp of the jumper cable from the Stratus first after is starts while it's still running. Then, remove the red clamp of the jumper cable from the Stratus. Be sure to not allow the clamps to contact one another.
Tips
- You can jump start the Stratus with a battery charger or a jumper pack following the same procedure except you wouldn't need the jumper cables or another car to assist. You would attach the clamps of the charger or jumper pack to the jump post terminals of the Stratus battery in the same order and remove them in the same order.
Writer Bio
Jody L. Campbell spent over 15 years as both a manager and an under-car specialist in the automotive repair industry. Prior to that, he managed two different restaurants for over 15 years. Campbell began his professional writing career in 2004 with the publication of his first book.
