Worst case scenario: you get in your car, turn the key and... nothing. Chances are your battery is dead. Don’t freak out! Jumping a car battery is easier than you think and I’m here to walk you through it.
What You’ll Need:
Before you start, make sure you have these items:
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Jumper cables – You can’t do this without them.
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A second vehicle with a working battery – A friend, neighbor or even a friendly stranger can help.
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Gloves and safety glasses (optional) – Safety first but not required.
Ready? Let’s get started!
Step 1: Park the Cars Close Together
First things first, park the cars close enough so the jumper cables can reach both batteries. Don’t let the cars touch – that’s important for safety reasons. Once you’re parked, turn both cars off and pop the hoods.
Step 2: Attach the Jumper Cables
Now it’s time to hook up the cables. Remember: Red = Positive (+), Black = Negative (-).
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Connect the red cable to the dead battery’s positive terminal. You’ll see a “+” or “POS” sign.
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Attach the other end of the red cable to the working battery’s positive terminal.
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Now, take the black cable and connect it to the working battery’s negative terminal.
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Finally, connect the other end of the black cable to an unpainted metal surface on the car with the dead battery. This could be a bolt or bracket. Don’t attach it to the dead battery’s negative terminal – it’s safer this way.
Step 3: Start the Working Car
Now that everything’s hooked up, start the car with the working battery. Let it run for a minute or two to charge the dead battery a bit. This will give it enough juice to turn over when you try to start it.
Step 4: Start the Dead Car
Now go ahead and try to start the car with the dead battery. If it starts right away, good! Let it run for 5-10 minutes.
If it doesn’t start, wait a couple more minutes and try again.
Step 5: Disconnect the Cables
Once the car with the dead battery is running, it’s time to disconnect the cables in reverse order:
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Remove the black cable from the metal surface of the car you just jumped.
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Take the black cable off the working car’s negative terminal.
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Remove the red cable from the working car’s positive terminal.
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Finally, remove the red cable from the dead car’s positive terminal.
Step 6: Drive the Car to Recharge the Battery
Now go for a drive. You should drive for at least 15-20 minutes to let the alternator charge the battery. If you can’t drive right away, just let it idle for a bit before you turn it off.
