How to... Jump A Car

What is generally needed to jump a car?

1. Jumper cables 2. A friend with a car (with a battery having at least the same voltage as your own) OR a portable battery.

After they're parked opposite each other, what should you do?

Locate the two terminals (the positive and negative terminals usually in red and black respectively) and be certain to determine which is positive and which is negative.

Black means?

Negative.

What do you do first when starting to jump a car?

Park the operating opposite the "dead" one and make sure they are both off with keys removed. Lift the hood.

Red means...

Positive.

What is the significance of the red and black coloring of the jumper cables?

Red indicates positive and that it's compatible with the positive terminal of the car's battery. Black means that it's negative and compatible to the negative terminal of the car's battery.

What are the steps to jump your car?

1. Attach one end of the positive (red) clamp to the positive terminal of the operating battery. 2. Attach the other end of the positive (red) clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery. 3. Attach one end of the negative (black) clamp to the negative terminal of the operating battery. 4. Attach the other end of the negative (black) clamp to the negative terminal of the dead battery OR to an unpainted, metal part of the car such as a shiny, clean nut on the engine block of the dead car. 5. Start the working vehicle and wait. Depending on the age of the battery and how long it's been dead, the time needed to wait will differ. 6. After waiting for some time, start the "dead" car. It should start. 7. Disconnect the black jumper cables first, then disconnect the red ones.

When would you have to jump your car?

Anytime your battery dies for whatever the reason (cold, lights left on, etc.).