You turn the key and get a click, a slow crank, or nothing at all. A dead battery is one of the most common reasons drivers get stuck, and it is usually one of the easiest to fix. Nick's Towing San Jacinto offers 24/7 jump start service in San Jacinto, Hemet and the surrounding valley.
We come to your driveway, your workplace or the parking lot where you are stuck, get the engine running and help you figure out whether the battery is likely to leave you stranded again. Call (951) 355-4290.
Signs You Need a Jump, Not a Tow
A jump start fixes a battery that is too weak to crank the engine. Common clues that the battery is the problem:
- A rapid clicking sound when you turn the key or press the start button
- The engine cranks very slowly, then gives up
- Dash lights are dim, flicker or do not come on at all
- Interior lights or the radio were left on, or the car sat unused for weeks
If the engine cranks strongly but will not fire, the issue is more likely fuel, ignition or a sensor, and a jump will not help. In that case we can talk through other options, including a tow to your mechanic.
Another clue: if the car started fine yesterday and you hear nothing but a click today after leaving the headlights or a dome light on, the battery is almost certainly the cause. Those are the easiest calls we get.
Why Valley Heat Is Hard on Batteries
People think of dead batteries as a winter problem, but in the Inland Empire the heat does more damage. Long summer stretches of very hot days speed up the chemical wear inside a battery and evaporate the fluid in older designs. The battery often keeps working through the summer, then finally fails on a cooler morning when the engine needs more cranking power.
Cars that sit in the sun all day in a parking lot, at Mt. San Jacinto College or at work, and short trips that never fully recharge the battery, add to the strain. If your battery is several years old and you have noticed slower starts, it is worth having it tested before it leaves you stuck.
What’s included
- Jump starts at home, work or on the road
- Professional jump packs, no second car needed
- Charging system check after the engine starts
- Battery cable and terminal inspection
- Hybrid 12-volt battery jumps
- Pickups, vans and diesel trucks
- Push-button start vehicles
- Tow to a shop if the battery will not hold
How Our Jump Start Service Works
Our drivers carry professional jump packs, so we do not need to park nose to nose with your car. That matters in tight garages, crowded parking lots and on shoulders where another vehicle cannot safely pull up.
We connect to the correct points for your vehicle, which on some newer cars are remote terminals under the hood rather than the battery itself. Once the engine starts, we check that the alternator is charging, so you know whether you can drive normally or should head straight to a shop. We also check for loose or corroded battery cables, which cause more no-start calls than most people realize.
Hybrids, Push-Button Starts and Trucks
Modern vehicles need a little more care. Hybrids have a separate 12-volt battery that powers up the system, and it can go flat just like a regular car battery. Push-button start vehicles may not respond at all when the 12-volt battery is weak, and some will need a key fob held against a specific spot to start.
We jump cars, SUVs, pickups and light commercial vehicles, including diesel trucks that need more cranking power. If you drive a fully electric vehicle with a dead high-voltage battery, a jump will not help. In that case, our flatbed towing is the safe way to get it to a charger or service center.
Keeping Your Battery Healthy Between Jumps
A jump start fixes today's problem. A little prevention keeps it from happening again next week. Most car batteries do not last as long in hot climates as they do in cooler parts of the country, so it pays to keep an eye on yours.
- Park in shade or a garage when you can during the summer.
- Take a longer drive at least once a week if most of your trips are short.
- Keep battery terminals clean and tight, and watch for white or green crust.
- Have the battery tested when it is a few years old, before it starts giving warning signs.
- If a car will sit for weeks, consider a battery maintainer.
None of this is complicated, and it can save you from a no-start at a bad time.
When the Jump Does Not Hold
Sometimes the car starts and dies again a few minutes later, or the battery will not take a charge at all. That usually points to a failed battery, a bad alternator or a parasitic drain that empties the battery overnight. Driving on a failing alternator can leave you stuck again somewhere worse, like Ramona Expressway at night.
If that happens, we can tow you straight to your mechanic or an auto parts store on the same visit. Jump starts are part of our full roadside assistance service, so you are covered either way.
Where we provide jump start service
Every day in San Jacinto, and on request in Hemet, Valle Vista, East Hemet, Winchester, Homeland, Nuevo, Menifee, Perris, Moreno Valley, Beaumont, Banning, Idyllwild.
