Correct Way to Jump Start a Vehicle

Anyone that uses automobiles on a regular basis will probably have to deal with a dead battery at some point. Most of us have seen the jumping procedure performed in the real world or on television, but are unclear on the proper order of cable attachment. It is very important to do so correctly, as car batteries are powerful devices containing powerful electrical charges. As long as proper care is taken, your vehicle will be running again before you know it.

Things You'll Need

• Jump cables
• Functioning vehicle

Instructions

1. Park the functioning vehicle close to the vehicle that needs the jump start. Make sure that the vehicles are not touching in any way, and that the vehicles are properly parked and turned off.

2. Attach one of the positive cable clamps to the positive battery terminal on the dead vehicle. The positive cable clamp is usually red, and the positive battery terminal is marked with a "+" sign.

3. Attach the positive clamp on the other end of the cable to the positive battery terminal on the functioning vehicle.

4. Attach the negative clamp on the same end of the cable to the negative battery terminal on the functioning vehicle. The negative cable clamp is usually black, and the negative battery terminal is marked with a "-" sign.

5. Attach the remaining negative clamp to any sturdy metal surface in the engine compartment of the dead vehicle. Completing the circuit by attaching this last cable to the dead battery can ignite hydrogen gas created as a battery depletes.

6. Start the functioning vehicle and let it idle. This will slowly transfer electrical charge to the dead battery. The older or deader the dead the battery, the longer this step should take.

7. Start the vehicle with the dead battery. Let the two vehicles idle for a few minutes.

8. Disconnect the cables in reverse order: negative clamp on dead vehicle, negative clamp on functioning vehicle, positive clamp on functioning vehicle, positive clamp on dead vehicle.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep a pair of jumper cables in your trunk.

• The battery terminals on either vehicle may be corroded. If this is the case, scrape the terminals clean with a wire brush to guarantee an optimal electrical connection.

References

• Edmunds: How to Jump Start
• Car Buying Tips: How to Jump Start a Car