Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Tips & Warnings:
- Always store a set of jumper cables in the trunk of your car.
- Holding up jumper cables indicates clearly to passing motorists that you need a jump--but stay safely out of the road when you do so.
- When buying jumper cables, choose a set that is at least 8 feet (2.5 m) long; this makes it easier to connect the two cars.
- Do not reverse the polarity. Make sure the cables are attached as described, to avoid damaging your car's electrical equipment or causing the battery to explode.
Step1
Determine that a dead battery is the reason your car is not starting. If the engine cranks when you turn the key, the problem is not the battery and jump-starting won't help. If the windshield wipers, lights and heater blower all work, the battery is probably fine and you may have a bad starter. A jump-start won't help if you have a bad starter. If you hear no sound at all when you turn the key or if the engine cranks very slowly and the accessories do not work, then you have a dead or low battery and it's time to break out the jumper cables. You'll need a flashlight if it's dark outside.
Step2
Find someone with a running car that can give yours a jump.
Step3
Open the hoods on both cars and determine where the batteries are. Park the booster car (the one that's running) so that the batteries are adjacent.
Step4
Turn off the booster car.
Step5
Attach the red jumper cable's end to the positive terminal on the dead battery. Use a rag to wipe the battery clean if you can't see the Pos or plus (+) sign on the battery. The positive terminal is always slightly larger than the negative one.
Step6
Attach the other end of the red cable to the booster battery's positive terminal.
Step7
Attach the black jumper cable's end to the booster battery's negative terminal.
Step8
Attach the other end of the black jumper cable to a ground on the dead car's engine; any solid metal part works fine. You may see a small spark when you attach the last end. This is normal.
Step9
Turn on the booster car and rev the engine.
Step10
Turn on the dead car. If it doesn't start, you may have a poor connection at any of the four cable ends. Jiggle each cable end and try starting the car again.
Step11
Once the car starts, disconnect the cables in reverse order of attachment: negative, negative, positive, positive.
Step12
Keep the engine running on the jumped car for at least 20 minutes or longer so the alternator has sufficient time to recharge your battery.
Open the hoods on both cars and determine where the batteries are. Park the booster car (the one that's running) so that the batteries are adjacent.
Attach the other end of the black jumper cable to a ground on the dead car's engine; any solid metal part works fine. You may see a small spark when you attach the last end. This is normal.
Comments
rbtr8r said
on 12/23/2007 How is it possible for the same provider of two different articles on the same subject matter provide information which is exactly opposite of the first article? Doesn't give me a lot of confidence in either one. Think of your liability.
ike9898 said
on 7/12/2007 I think you should explain that if the alternator is bad, you will continue to have this problem and the car will probably not start after the next time you turn it off.