How to Hook up Jumper Cables
Park the donor vehicle (live battery) next to the vehicle with the dead battery., Switch off the radio, headlights, interior lights, and — if safe — emergency flashers on both vehicles. , Turn both vehicles off., Identify the positive and negative...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Park the donor vehicle (live battery) next to the vehicle with the dead battery.
Position the vehicles so that the batteries are as close together as possible, but make sure the two cars do not touch. -
Step 2: Switch off the radio
, Set the parking brakes, and switch each car into park or neutral (for automatic or manual transmissions, respectively). , The cables leading to the positive battery terminal are almost always red.
If you're in doubt, the battery itself has a "+" and "-" sign to mark the positive and negative terminals.
Check the terminals on the battery for corrosion before jump starting.
If you notice any corrosion on the terminals, clean them and then try to start the car once more before proceeding with the jump.
The battery may not be dead it just may have a bad connection. , Leads on jumper cables are normally not the exact same length to prevent them from touching.
If they are the same length, make sure they have not been modified in any way or damaged. , Make sure the clamp is securely attached to the battery terminal.
On some vehicles, you may have to remove a plastic cover from the positive battery terminal before you can make this connection. , Again, make sure the clamp is securely connected and won't slip off due to vibration in the engine compartment. ,, Attach the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface inside the engine compartment on the vehicle with the dead battery — the farther from the battery, the better.
An unpainted bolt on the engine block is ideal.
Remember, the clamp must be able to "bite" securely onto the object in question and hold in place, even if the engine vibrates.
You can, theoretically, connect the second black clamp to the negative terminal on the dead battery instead.
But this produces a spark, which could ignite hydrogen fumes from the battery.
Check to make sure no part of the jumper cables — or tools, or battery covers — dangle into the engine compartment, where it might foul belts, pulleys, or other moving parts. , Run the RPM up to about 3,000 as you attempt to start the car with the dead battery. , Negative terminal (black clamp) on the donor battery.
Positive terminal on the donor battery.
Positive terminal on the previously dead battery. -
Step 3: headlights
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Step 4: interior lights
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Step 5: and — if safe — emergency flashers on both vehicles.
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Step 6: Turn both vehicles off.
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Step 7: Identify the positive and negative battery terminals.
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Step 8: Separate the jumper cable clamps so that there's no risk of them accidentally touching together — this could cause a short circuit.
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Step 9: Clamp one of the red clamps securely onto the positive terminal of the dead battery.
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Step 10: Secure the other red clamp to the positive terminal on the donor battery.
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Step 11: Connect one of the black jumper-cable clamps to the negative terminal on the donor battery.
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Step 12: Ground the last clamp.
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Step 13: Start the donor vehicle and let it idle for a few minutes before you attempt to start the car with the dead battery.
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Step 14: Disconnect the jumper cables in the following order once you get the dead-battery car running: Negative ground (engine-block bolt or
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Step 15: less desirably
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Step 16: negative terminal on the dead battery).
Detailed Guide
Position the vehicles so that the batteries are as close together as possible, but make sure the two cars do not touch.
, Set the parking brakes, and switch each car into park or neutral (for automatic or manual transmissions, respectively). , The cables leading to the positive battery terminal are almost always red.
If you're in doubt, the battery itself has a "+" and "-" sign to mark the positive and negative terminals.
Check the terminals on the battery for corrosion before jump starting.
If you notice any corrosion on the terminals, clean them and then try to start the car once more before proceeding with the jump.
The battery may not be dead it just may have a bad connection. , Leads on jumper cables are normally not the exact same length to prevent them from touching.
If they are the same length, make sure they have not been modified in any way or damaged. , Make sure the clamp is securely attached to the battery terminal.
On some vehicles, you may have to remove a plastic cover from the positive battery terminal before you can make this connection. , Again, make sure the clamp is securely connected and won't slip off due to vibration in the engine compartment. ,, Attach the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface inside the engine compartment on the vehicle with the dead battery — the farther from the battery, the better.
An unpainted bolt on the engine block is ideal.
Remember, the clamp must be able to "bite" securely onto the object in question and hold in place, even if the engine vibrates.
You can, theoretically, connect the second black clamp to the negative terminal on the dead battery instead.
But this produces a spark, which could ignite hydrogen fumes from the battery.
Check to make sure no part of the jumper cables — or tools, or battery covers — dangle into the engine compartment, where it might foul belts, pulleys, or other moving parts. , Run the RPM up to about 3,000 as you attempt to start the car with the dead battery. , Negative terminal (black clamp) on the donor battery.
Positive terminal on the donor battery.
Positive terminal on the previously dead battery.
About the Author
Peter Patel
Creates helpful guides on pet care to inspire and educate readers.
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