The information below will tell you exactly how to safely jump start a car, truck or vehicle. Remember to keep a set of jumper cables in your trunk. You never know when you or another helpless person may need them.
To safely jump start a car without causing damage to your vehicle, follow the easy steps below:
STEP 1: Put both cars in Park or Neutral, turn off engines, apply parking brakes, and take the keys out of the ignition in both vehicles.
STEP 2: Using a pair of jumper cables, connect one of the red cable clips to the positive + battery terminal on your cars dead battery.
STEP 3: Connect the other red cable clip to the positive + battery terminal of the other vehicle.
Red jumper cable is now in place.
STEP 4: Connect one of the black cable clips to the negative – battery terminal on the other cars battery.
STEP 5: Attach the other end of the black cable clip to an unpainted metal surface (engine block) on your car that is not close to your dead battery.
Black jumper cable is now in place.
Be sure to connect the jumper cables properly, they should look like this.
STEP 6: Once you are 100% positive the jumper cables are connected safely and properly, start the vehicle that has the good battery.
STEP 7: Wait about a minute and then attempt to start your car. If your car will NOT start, have the person in the running car run the engine for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes try to start your car.
When you car does finally start, do not turn off the engine. Your vehicle needs its battery recharged so drive the car for at least 10 minutes before you shut it off. You may have left something on in your car that drained your battery. If your car starts up perfectly after the initial jump, then your battery is probably just fine. If the car will not start again, then you will need to replace the battery. If you want to be completely sure if your battery needs to be replaced, you can remove the battery and go to an auto parts store and have it checked for free. If they say it is bad then consider buying a new battery right then and there and installing in your vehicle.
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