How to Jump Start a Car Battery

Everyone should know how to start a car battery for the inevitable event when you become stranded with a dead vehicle. Luckily, the act of jump starting a car battery is both easy and quick. It is always advisable to carry jumper cables in your car for just such an event, that way you won't be forced to rely on others, with the exception of using another car to get yours running. Here's how you do it.

Step 1: Before You Get Going

Prior to jump starting your car, it is a good idea to get it off the main road and into a safe place where you don't have to worry about passing traffic. Next you will want to line up the second vehicle facing yours. When doing this, it is a good idea to make sure the two cars do not touch. Open the hoods of both cars and inspect your cables for corrosion and to make sure they are not loose.

Step 2: Prep the Vehicles

Now you want to turn off both cars so they are not running. Next make sure both cars are in park or neutral. Lastly, you want to turn off any accessories, lights or other electrical drains on both vehicles.

Step 3: Connect the Positives

Connect the cables to the car with the dead battery first. Begin by attaching the positive (red) clamp to the positive battery terminal post. This post should either have a red cover on it or a "+" symbol to indicate it is the positive one. Next connect the positive (red) clamp to the positive battery post on the booster vehicle.

Step 4: Connect the Negatives

With both positive clamps connected you can now do the negatives. Start by connecting the negative (black) clamp to the negative post on the booster car. The negative post should either have a black cover on it or a "-" symbol. Next you can connect the last negative clamp to the negative post on the dead car. This last connection will ground the cables and the cars. Prior to moving on it is a good idea to double check all of the clamps to ensure that they haven't come loose.

Step 5: Start the Booster Car

Start the booster car and let it idle for several minutes. This will charge the battery on the dead car, allowing you to start it. If your battery is fully drained it is a good idea to let the booster car idle for ten minutes or so.

Step 6: Start Your Car

Now you can attempt to start your vehicle. If it doesn't start right away, leave the connections alone and give it another shot in 5 minutes or so. Once the vehicles are started, let them idle together for a minute or two before removing the clamps.

Step 7: Remove the Cables

Once your car is running, you can disconnect the battery cables. When doing so, remove them in the reverse order you attached them. Remember not to shut off your car and let it run for a half hour to allow the alternator to charge your battery.