How to Properly Jump Start a Car

Do not let yourself get stranded with a dead battery again. This article will give you the proper steps for jump starting a car with a dead battery.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jumper cables

1. 

   Start by having someone pull their vehicle up to yours and pop the hood and get out the jumper cables.

2. 

   Next, check the car with the dead battery to see if the battery has any loose connections on the positive side or the negative side. If so, tighten the cables before jump starting the car.

3. 

   Next, remove the water caps on the dead battery to check the water level. The water level should be at least half way up the port. If not, add water to fill up the water ports before jumping the dead battery off.

4. Next, take a rag or any piece of cloth and wipe off the battery cable connectors to remove any acid build up or corrosion.

5. Next, take a good look at the dead battery. The positive post will have a positive symbol beside it(+) and the negative post will have a negative post beside it(-).

6. 

   Next, crank up the car that has the good battery.

7. 

   This next step is crucial. Take the jumper cables and take the red clamp, which is the positive clamp and hook it to the positive post(+) on the dead battery.

8. 

   Next, take the black cable of the jumper cable, which is the negative clamp and hook it to the negative post (-) on the dead battery.

9. 

   Next, take the Red clamp on the other end of the jumper cable and hook it to the positive post(+) of the good battery.

10. Next, take the black clamp on the other end of the jumper cable and hook it to the negative post(-) of the battery.

11. Make sure that the battery cables are nice and secure on the batteries and double check to make sure that they are on the right cables.

12. Next, rev the engine up of the car with the good battery just a little bit above idle. Wait about 2 minutes before trying to crank the car with the dead battery.

13. Try to crank the car with the dead battery. If the dead battery clicks, make sure that your cables are tight. If the car starts to turn over, wait another couple of minutes for the good battery to charge the bad battery and then the car should crank up.

14. Lastly, remove the battery cables from the good battery first. Remove the positive cables first and then remove the cables from the battery that you jumped off. Removing the positive cable first. Close the hood and put the jumper cables back in the trunk.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear safety glasses if you have them.
• Be sure not to touch the jumper cables to any metal while hooking them up to the battery.
• Do not let the cable clamps touch while you are applying the jumper cables to the good battery or they will spark and could blow the battery up.

[fen527]

on 7/14/2009 I agree with capfriend's comment. Great article!

[Wasatch]

on 7/9/2009 Good tips. I have been teaching my teen daughter how to jump start her car and check the oil.

[capfriend]

on 7/8/2009 I think this should be printed out and kept in glove compartments! Excellent article. 5*

[nicisman08]

on 7/7/2009 Always remember that the red clamp is the positive and the black jumper cable clamp is the negative.

[bellerose]

on 7/7/2009 Thanks, good to go over this before it happens. 5*