When you turn the key to start a vehicle, the car battery may not turn over or start. You’ll need to jump the car to transport some of the power from another vehicle. Here is a guide to the process to get you back on the road.

5 Steps to Jump-Start a Vehicle

1. Position the Vehicles

Park the healthy vehicle as close as possible to your car while leaving space for you to get in the driver’s side. Check that both batteries are the same voltage by looking at the vehicle manual—some are six volts while others are 12. Using the wrong one could short the battery and melt the casing. 

2. Check Your Equipment

Gather your jumper cables and assess the wiring for corrosion or bald spots where the coating is no longer covering the metal. If you notice these issues, toss the cables and purchase new ones. Most come in 10 to 12-foot lengths to make it easier to reach between vehicles. 

Turn the cars off, open the hoods, and assess the terminals. Each car battery should feature two nubs on the top. If you spot rust, use a small brush to remove the corrosion and clear the terminals.

3. Attach the Clamps

Attach the red alligator clip to the positive terminal of the dead car—this side should feature a plus sign on the battery casing. Attach the red clamp to the donor vehicle on the positive terminal.

Connect the black clip to the negative or minus sign side of the donor car before adding the second black clip to an unpainted metal part of the dead car. This section should be part of the vehicle body, not the battery. 

4. Start the Donor

Step away and start the ignition in the healthy car. Let it idle to provide power to the dead vehicle for 10 minutes. You’ll know you can disconnect the jumper cables if you try to turn on the interior lights in the dead car and they work.

5. Start the Dead Car

If the lights go on when you flick the switch, turn the key in the ignition to start the vehicle. Let the car idle while removing the clips in the reverse order.

Start by disconnecting the black clip from the dead car on the unpainted metal. Take off the black clip, then the red clip on the donor vehicle. Finally, detach the red clip from the dead car. Leave the once-dead vehicle running for 10 to 20 minutes to fully recharge the battery.

Vehicle owners who need car battery assistance should contact A-1 Auto A/C Specialist & General Auto Repair in Honolulu, HI. Their ASE®-certified auto mechanics handle general maintenance and repairs for everything from the brakes to the transmission. Call (808) 836-2939 to make an appointment, or visit the website for more information on their affordable services.