There are plenty of reasons a car’s battery will die on you: you left the lights on, the water levels are down in the battery, or your alternator has gone on the fritz. But the moment you realize your car isn’t going to start isn’t the time to find out why. All you want to do is get that thing started again.
Now we’ve all seen cars nose to nose and the thick cables of the jumpers hanging between them, and most of you have probably jumped a few cars in your time, but there is only one way to jump-start a car – the safe way – and I’m going to tell you how to do it.
It seems that winter bring out a case of the jumps. Weak batteries are made weaker by the extreme cold and there just seems to be more cause for learning how to do this right. So here we go.
Step 1 – Turn off everything in the dead car. Everything. No radio, no blinkers, no fan, no nothing. Do the same for the live car, and make sure the cars are not touching.
Step 2 – Check the dead battery for cracks and leaks. If you see it STOP! DON’T DO ANOTHER THING! That puppy will explode if you send the juice from the live car through it. Put the cables down and get a ride to a store and buy a new battery. Period.
Step 3 – Assuming there are no cracks, take a look at the Positive and Negative terminal posts on the dead battery. Are they covered in corrosion? If so, clean it away, and if you have the tools, undo the wires connecting to the posts and clean that, too, and then re-attach. Remember, Positive is usually red or orange, and Negative is usually black. Always double-check.
Now here is the most important step. There is only ONE WAY to do this. Do it any other way and you risk the battery exploding. It happens to people who are in a rush. Don’t let it happen to you.
Step 4 – Connecting the jumper cables safely is your only job. Here’s how you do it:
First: Connect one Positive clamp to the Positive post on dead battery.
Second: Connect the other Positive clamp to the Positive post on the good battery.
Third: Connect a Negative clamp to the negative post on the good battery.
Fourth: Connect the other Negative clamp to a solid, shiny, non-painted metal part of the engine. A painted, dirty or oily nut will not work. Avoid putting the clamp on the battery itself. There will be a spark when you connect the ground and complete the circuit.
Step 5 – From here on out there are two possibilities for you. 1) Once the circuit is made simply run the live car for a few minutes to re-charge the dead battery. Then turn the live car off. Take the cables off in the reverse order you put them on, and then start the dead car. Often times this will be enough to get the dead car started. If it doesn’t go back to Step 1 and complete each step again and then 2) after a few minutes of the live car running, turn over the dead car with cables attached. Once the engine catches disconnect the cables in the reverse order you put them on and let the once dead car run for a few minutes.
Step 6 – Turn the once dead car off. You heard me turn it off. You want to find out right now, if your battery is holding a charge, so turn it off and try and start it again. If it starts, great. If it don’t, then you’re going to need more help than a jump.
Step 7 – Have someone follow you home to make sure there are no further breakdowns and as soon as you can bring your car into a shop you trust (like QUALITY TIRE SERVICE in Spring Grove, IL) and have a technician give it the once over.
Well, that’s the lesson for today. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but if you do you’ll know how to do it safely. And if you have any questions always check your Owner’s Manual.
Be safe.
