Jumping Your Car when the Battery Is Dead

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated May 25, 2010)

If your car battery is dead, jumper cables and another car can quickly get you moving again. But check your owner's manual first. Some cars with electronic engine-management systems are seriously damaged by jumpstarting.

You can give your car a jumpstart by following these steps:

  1. Bring the two cars nose to nose, but not touching.
  2. Open up the hood on both vehicles.
  3. Make sure that the engine of the working car remains running.
  4. Connect the negative (-) terminals of both batteries with the black jumper cable.
  5. Connect the positive (+) terminals of both batteries with the red jumper cable.
  6. Wait a few seconds (perhaps a minute) and switch on the ignition of the car that is not working.
  7. Turn the key to start the engine.

When the car is running smoothly, disconnect the jumper cables from the two cars. Don't turn off your car (the one that needed to be jumped) for about thirty minutes. Driving around can help the car recharge the battery so it will work properly the next time you start up.

When jumping your car's battery, there are a couple of things you should be careful about. If you connect both the red and black cables to a battery, don't touch the copper leads on the other end of the cables to each other or allow a conductive surface to come in contact with the leads. Doing so could result in a spectacular shower of sparks and might damage the car's electrical system.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Ban Mushrooms from Your Cat's Diet

Animals' diets are just as important to their health as our diets are to ours. You need to be careful what you feed your ...

Discover More

Do Not Feed Dog Food to a Cat

While you may think that pet food is pet food, as a pet owner you should know better. Cat food is significantly different ...

Discover More

Bulldog

Initially bred for fighting, the Bulldog is now a sought after pet. He is docile and affectionate by nature.

Discover More
More Car Tips

Replacing a Battery

No matter how well you take care of your car, you will eventually need to replace the battery. Replacing a battery is an ...

Discover More

Charging Your Battery

Having a battery die on you can be an embarrassing and frustrating event. Luckily, charging your battery is something ...

Discover More

Troubleshooting an Electrical Problem

Automotive electrical systems can be a tad confusing, and troubleshooting an electrical problem can be daunting. It ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 8 - 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.