How to Safely Jump Start a Car

12 Steps to Safely Jump Start a Car

Supplies

1. Jumper cables

2. A live battery

Step 1: Park Both Cars Nose to Nose

Many jumper cables aren't very long so the cars need to be close together.

Step 2: Turn Both Cars Off

Having the car on can be dangerous. It could cause you to get shocked or could spark a fire.

Step 3: Locate the Battery

Almost all batteries are found under the hood. If you're having a hard time locating your batter, try looking in the car's User Manual.

Step 4: Find the Positive and Negative Terminals on Each Battery

There should be a plus sign and a minus sign to indicate where each terminal is.

Step 5: Find the Positive and Negative Ends of the Jumper Cables

The positive clamp is red and the negative clamp is black.

Step 6: Attach the Positive Clamps

Attach a positive clamp on the positive terminal on the dead battery, and then the other positive clamp on the positive terminal on the live battery.

Step 7: Attach the Negative Clamps

Attach a negative clamp to the negative terminal on the live battery. You will NOT attach the other negative clamp to the negative terminal on the dead battery. You will, however, attach it to an unpainted, metallic part of the engine or frame.

Step 8: Move Away

Just in case things don't go as planned, take a few steps back so you won't be harmed.

Step 9: Start the Engine

Start the engine with the good battery first. Let it run for a few minutes.

Step 10: Start the Car

Start the car with the dead battery.

Step 11: Remove the Cables

Remove the black clamp from the revived car first, and then the black clamp from the live battery. After that, remove the red clamp from the live battery, and then the red clamp from the revived battery.

Step 12: Let the Revived Vehicle Run for a Bit

Once the vehicle starts running again, don't turn it off right away or immediately pull into traffic. Let your engine charge your battery for a little while.