How To Jump-Start Your Car

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There's nothing more frustrating than getting into your car, turning the key, and—nothing. The good news is that a quick jump-start is just a jumper cable away.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Working car
Jumper cables

Warning: Never attempt to jump-start a battery that is frozen, cracked, or damaged in any way. It could explode when connected to another battery.

Step 1: Position cars

Position the working car as close to the "dead" car as possible. Ideally, that means hood to hood with a few inches in between.

Step 2: Turn off both engines

Turn off both engines.

Tip: Never light a match or smoke near a car battery. The battery contains hydrogen, a highly explosive gas.

Step 3: Open hoods of both cars

Open the hoods of both cars.

Step 4: Identify terminals on car batteries

Identify the positive and negatives terminals on both car batteries. They will be labeled with a plus sign for positive and minus sign for negative.

Step 5: Connect red clamp to dead battery

Connect one of the red clamps on the jumper cables to the positive terminal on the dead battery.

Step 6: Connect red clamp to working battery

Connect the other red clamp to the positive terminal on the working car's battery.

Step 7: Connect black clamp to working battery

Connect the black clamp on the jumper cables to the negative terminal on the working car's battery.

Step 8: Clip black clamp to dead car's engine

Clip the remaining black clamp to a clean metal part of the dead car's engine to ground the circuit.

Step 9: Attempt to start dead car

Attempt to start the dead car. If it doesn't start, disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order: first the black clamps (starting with the once-dead car), then the red clamps (starting with the working car). Start the engine of the working car and allow it to run for about five minutes to boost its battery.

Step 10: Attempt to start again

Turn off the working car and again attempt to jump the dead car by connecting the cables—in order—and starting the ignition.

Step 11: Disconnect jumper cables

Once the car starts, disconnect all the clamps in the reverse order.

Step 12: Charge battery or go to repair shop

If you're confident that your dead battery was just drained by accident, keep your car running to charge it back up—otherwise, go directly to a repair shop without shutting off the engine, or you risk having the battery die on you again.

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• howcast
• how-to
• jump
• start
• car

[BowDownToSwineflue]

Fuuuuck you toyota. I don't have time for your commercials! i need to jumpstart my car before work.

[KOTAmusic1992]

top two comments = touche motherfucker.

[Theometricnews]

Though that may be an interesting conversation starter Newt, I don't think the politicians killed my car battery.

[TiramisuHappy]

INTERSATATE MegaTron batteries suck!!

Thank you.

[treflipinmylifeaway]

That Porsche has a rear engine...

[JayC376]

lmao at 0:45 he opend the trunk.

[robustion44]

If u r prudent about jumpin a car, u will take my advice! Always hook your ground (Negative/Black) first, do this on both batteries. Repeat the process in opposite, removing your "Hot"(Red/Positive) first on both cars, this avoids an accidental spark!! The Positive is always got more live current then its Negative counterpart!! And last but not least, never touch the 2 cables 2 gether while they are live! The spark may look cool, but this can blow a battery or other electrical systems!

[sp20eleven]

@126sean what is wrong about the video?

[Straightbangin1979]

It sucks when I actually NEED to do this I forget the order to do it all. I should write it on a sticker and post it on the inside of my car's hood :P

[maxgroovequotient]

my horn begins blaring when I connect the grounding cable?

[Hilux244]

Facial Expression when starting the car, best part. Must have been to acting school.

[11helloguy]

i like how he is jump starting the FRONT OF A PORSCHE!!!!