How to Jump a Car

Automobile How To

If you find yourself with a dead battery, you’ll likely need to try jump-starting your car. This is easy to do, but be careful you don’t get hurt since there is electricity involved. First, pull a working car within jumper cable distance of your dead vehicle; just make sure the two cars are not touching. Make sure both cars are not going to move, and turn the working car off. Open each hood and connect the red handled, or positive jumper cable clamp to the positive terminal of the working car, and then to the dead car’s positive terminal (the red one with the plus sign). Then connect the black handled negative clamp to the dead car’s negative terminal, or anywhere on the car that is metal. Repeat with the other end: black clamp to negative terminal on the working vehicle. Start the working vehicles engine, and rev it a few times, this will help create a good charge. Personally, I’ve found it works best to let the working car run for a minute or two before trying to start the dead car. After a minute, try starting the dead car, if nothing, double check the connections. After you are able to start your car, leave it on or drive it around for a while to recharge the battery. If you immediately turn it off, the car will once again be dead.