A dead battery is a common issue that's usually fixable with jumper cables or a portable jump starter.
Learning how to identify the positive and negative terminals of the battery helps you safely jumpstart your car.
Always go red to red and black to metal when using jumper cables, and if it doesn't start, you may need a new battery.
One of the worst feelings as a driver is when you turn the key in the ignition and the car tries but just can't start. It always seems to happen when you have to be somewhere right away. Usually, a dead battery is the cause, and luckily, it is often fixable.
What Do You Need to Jump a Car?
There are two things you'll need to jumpstart your car:
Jumper cables
Power source — either a portable jump battery (a jump box) or another vehicle
Jumper cables are long, thickly insulated cables with toothy clips on one or both ends. The clips are distinguished by color, usually red and black, to indicate positive and negative polarity. The red clip is positive. The black clip is negative.
Jump boxes are portable batteries used to jumpstart a vehicle with special jump cables. These cables connect the jump battery directly to the dead car battery. Roadside assistance usually uses a jump box when helping stalled vehicles.
How Do I Use Jumper Cables to Jumpstart My Car?
Keeping a set of jumper cables in your emergency preparedness kit is the cheapest way to get you out of a dead battery situation. It just requires you to have another car or a "Good Samaritan" to help you out. Here is an in-depth rundown of how this process works:
Do a safety check. Verify that both batteries are safe and capable of jumping (not damaged, same voltage, etc.).
Get the vehicles ready. Line up the cars nose-to-nose or side-by-side so the jumper cables can reach each battery. Put the cars in park, turn them off, and open the hoods.
Attach the jumper cables.Use this specific order to prevent issues:
Red to dead — Connect an alligator clip from one end of the red cable to the positive of the dead battery.
Red to donor — Connect the other red alligator clip to the positive of the donor car.
Black to donor — Connect the black alligator clip to the negative of the donor car.
Black to metal — Connect the other black alligator clip to a piece of unpainted metal in the dead car (this prevents an unnecessary spark).
Start the donor car. Let it run for a few minutes to charge the dead battery.
Test the dead battery. See if the headlights or interior lights turn on. If they turn on, the car is successfully charging.
Try and start the dead car. If it turns on, proceed to step 7. Otherwise, try wiping off the terminals, establishing a new connection, and repeating steps 4-6. If it doesn't start, it might be time for a new battery.
Disconnect the jumper cables. Use the reverse order in which you connected them. Let the car that had the dead battery run for at least 15 minutes to let it recharge or take it for a drive.
Using a Portable Jumper Pack to Start a Car
If you have your own portable jumper pack, the process is quite similar:
Attach the red clip to the positive terminal.
Attach the black clip to an unpainted piece of metal under the hood.
Follow the exact instructions of your model jumper pack to see how to start the jumping process.
Start your vehicle.
Remove the jumper pack in the same order as attaching it.
Important Tips for Jumpstarting a Car
The battery should be in good condition if you're jump-starting it. If the battery looks corroded, cracked, or leaks battery fluid, do not jump it. Never jump a frozen or dry battery, either. It is a good idea to keep your battery maintained.
Also consider how to avoid damaging the donor vehicle's battery. If the batteries of the two vehicles have different voltages (like 6V and 12V) or the donor battery is low, jump-starting can damage it. A quick way to test if the donor battery is low is to see if the headlights are bright and steady upon starting it. If they are dim, the battery is likely low.
Finally, never touch the red and black ends of the jumper cables together while connected.
Jumpstart Your Battery and Your Driving Knowledge
Whether your battery died due to the cold or leaving a light on, now you know exactly how to recharge it. But what if something else goes wrong with your vehicle? Learn how to safely operate and maintain your vehicle by signing up for a defensive driving course at IDriveSafely.com. We offer 100% online courses to meet all of your driving needs.
Updated 5/1/24
