How to Jumpstart a Car Safely
Follow these steps carefully to jumpstart a car with a dead battery using jumper cables and another vehicle.
- Position the Cars: Park the working car close to the dead car, but ensure they do not touch. Turn off both engines and set the parking brakes.
- Identify Terminals: Locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on both batteries.
- Connect the Jumper Cables:
- Connect one RED clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.
- Connect the other RED clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.
- Connect one BLACK clamp to the negative (-) terminal of the good battery.
- Connect the final BLACK clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the dead car’s engine block (not the negative terminal).
- Start the Working Car: Start the engine of the working car and let it run for a few minutes.
- Start the Dead Car: Attempt to start the car with the dead battery. If it starts, let both cars run for a few more minutes.
- Disconnect the Cables: Remove the cables in the reverse order they were connected (Black from ground, Black from good battery, Red from good battery, Red from dead battery).
- Drive the Car: Keep the jumped car running for at least 20 minutes to allow the alternator to recharge the battery.
Safety Warning: Never allow the clamps to touch each other during the process. If the car doesn’t start after a few attempts, the battery may need replacement.