To jump start a car with cables, follow these essential steps:
- Park a second vehicle with a good battery close enough to the car with the dead battery so that the jumper cables can reach between the two batteries. Turn off both vehicles.
- Locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on both car batteries. The positive terminal is often marked with a red cover or "+" sign; the negative is usually black or marked with a "-".
- Connect the jumper cables in this order:
- Attach one red clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
- Attach the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the good battery.
- Attach one black clamp to the negative terminal of the good battery.
- Attach the last black clamp to an unpainted metal part (a grounding point) in the engine compartment of the dead car, away from the battery.
- Start the engine of the car with the good battery and let it run for a few minutes.
- Attempt to start the car with the dead battery. If it doesn’t start immediately, wait a few minutes and try again.
- Once the dead car starts, let both engines run for a few minutes to charge the battery.
- Carefully disconnect the cables in the reverse order, ensuring clamps do not touch each other or metal surfaces.
Important safety tips:
- Do not connect the final black clamp directly to the negative terminal of the dead battery to avoid sparks.
- Ensure the vehicles do not touch to prevent short circuits.
- Keep metal jewelry and loose clothing away from the battery.
- Consult the owner’s manual if the battery is located outside the engine compartment or if there are jump-start terminals under the hood.
This method safely transfers power from the good battery to the dead battery and allows the car to start.
