How To Properly Jump Start Your Vehicle

How To Properly Jump Start Your Vehicle

March 13, 2023

 

How To Properly Jump Start Your Vehicle

Jump starting your vehicle can be a life saver in emergency situations, but it’s important to know how to do it properly so you don’t damage the batteries of both cars.

Step 1: Connect The Positive Cable

First, find the negative terminal of your vehicle’s battery. It should have a black plastic cover or a negative sign on it. Next, locate the positive terminal of your vehicle’s battery, which should be marked with a positive symbol. The positive cable will have a nut or bolt attached to it that connects to the positive terminal of the battery. Use a wrench or pliers to remove this nut.

Step 2: Connect The Negative Cable

The negative cable connects the negative terminal on your battery to the metal frame of your car. This is critical because it is how your vehicle can power up when it is dead. This cable will be black and will usually be labeled with a minus sign or a black plastic cover. Use a wrench or pliers to loosen the nut that holds the negative terminal to your battery post. Once you have removed the nut, set aside the cable and move on to step 3.

Step 3: Start The Working Vehicle

After connecting both the positive and negative cables, start the working vehicle.  Let it run for about 10 minutes before starting the dead one. This gives your battery enough time to receive a charge from the working battery and will ensure that your car won’t suddenly die again after jumping it.

Step 4: Remove The Positive & Negative Cables

Before attempting to jump start your vehicle, you need to remove the positive cable. This is standard practice and helps eliminate any danger of electrical shorts or shocks. Afterwards, remove the negative cable from the vehicle. Once the cables are off, cover the end of it with a cloth to avoid metal-to-metal contact as you dismantle the battery. Alternatively, use zip ties or other forms of restraint to ensure the cables don’t touch.

Step 5: Start The Dead Vehicle

After disconnecting the cables in step 4, the next thing you must do is try to start the dead vehicle. After the jump is complete, you should take the working vehicle for a quick drive to give the dead battery time to charge. This will help make the job easier and faster.

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