How To Jump A Car – Dead Car Battery

CAUTION: This procedure is designed for a standard, 12-volt, gas or diesel car or light truck. It doesn’t apply to electric cars or hybrids.

CAUTION: Always examine the dead car battery before attempting to jump start it. Never try to jump start a battery that’s cracked, frozen, distorted, or gassing (a heavy vapor rising from anywhere on the battery). All these conditions indicate a serious failure; one that could cause the battery to explode if you attempt to jump it.

To jump start a car, you’ll need a decent set of jumper cables. A 12-foot set should be at least 6-gauge cable; 4-gauge is better (the lower the number, the heavier the cable). The 12- and 16-gauge cables sold in a lot of auto and convenience stores are nearly useless and can be dangerous under certain conditions. Check on line for a better quality set.

Here’s How To Jump Start A Dead Battery:

1. Position the car you’re going to jump from near the dead car, and open the hoods on both cars.
2. Check the batteries to identify the positive (+) and negative (–) terminals.
3. Start the engine on the car that you’re using to jump the dead one.
4. Connect the red clamp on your jumper cables to the positive (+) terminal on the dead battery.
5. Connect the other red clamp to the positive (+) terminal on the battery you’re jumping from.
6. Connect the black clamp to the negative (–) battery terminal on the dead battery.
7. Connect the other black clamp to the engine block or a good, heavy bracket on the engine of the car you’re jumping from. This is a safety precaution to keep any sparks away from the battery.
8. You should hear the alternator begin to whine and the engine speed change a little on the engine that’s running. That proves you have a good connection.
9. Start the engine on the car with the dead battery. You may have to wait a few minutes for the battery to charge a little before it cranks fast enough to start the engine.
10. Once the engine starts, leave it running. Don’t shut it off!
11. Disconnect the cables, one at a time, from the batteries, in reverse order. Be very careful not to let the loose connectors touch anything until they’re all disconnected.
12. Close the hoods on both cars.

Dead Auto Battery Replacement

Take your car right over to your local Cottman center: They’ll check the battery and charging system, and make any repairs necessary to keep you from having to jump a car battery again.