How to Start a Car Using a Battery Jumper
Battery jumpers, sometimes called "jump boxes" or "jump starters," are devices with internal batteries used to supply power to a weak or dead battery. Battery jumpers are more convenient than using standard jumper cables, because you don't need another vehicle to supply power. Using a battery jumper is effective and safe, provided you follow the directions carefully.
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Instructions
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1
Test the battery jumper to make sure it's sufficiently charged. Most systems have a "Test" button or a LED light indicating the internal battery strength.
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2
Turn your engine off and remove the key from the ignition. Open your hood.
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3
Locate your battery. Most car batteries are located near one of the fender wells, either on the left or right side of the engine bay. Your battery may be covered; if so, look for a black, rectangular box with "+" and "-" symbols. If your battery is covered, open the cover's clips to access the battery. If your battery is not in your engine bay, your vehicle will have a positive (+) battery post. You can use this to jump start the vehicle.
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Connect the positive (red) clamp to the positive (+) battery terminal or post. After connecting the positive clamp, locate a ground for the negative (black) clamp. The ground must be unpainted, bare metal. The ground is required to complete the circuit, so electricity can properly flow. If you cannot locate a proper ground, connect the clamp to the negative battery terminal as a last option.
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Insert your key into the ignition and crank the engine. If the engine doesn't crank immediately, leave the battery jumper connected for a few minutes and try again.
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Remove the negative clamp from the ground or battery terminal with the car engine running (you don't want it to go dead again; it needs to run awhile to fully charge). After you've removed the negative clamp, remove the positive clamp.
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Tips & Warnings
Most battery jumpers need to be charged between uses. For best results, connect your jumper back to its power outlet.
If your battery will not start after repeated tries, it's likely beyond saving. You'll need to replace the battery.
Connect and disconnect the clamps in the precise order. Not doing so could cause damage to the charging system.
