A Step-By-Step Guide to Jump Starting Your Car’s Battery Safely

When your car’s battery is dead, jump starting it can be a quick and easy process, with just a few safety considerations to keep in mind. Follow these five easy steps and you’ll be back on the road in no time.

1. Protect yourself and your car’s electrical system. Wear thick gloves and safety glasses, and turn off all electrical components in both your car and the booster car. Make sure you don’t come into contact with the car battery, since it’s filled with sulfuric acid.

2. Examine your battery. Look at the base of the battery’s two terminals. If you see any greenish material on or near the terminal, this indicates that the surfaces of your terminal and cable clamp have become corroded. Loosen the cable clamp and remove the cable from one of the terminals. Using steel wool, a steel brush, or sandpaper, clean off the surfaces of your cable clamp and terminal.

3. Move your car into reach of the battery providing power. Attach the red cable end to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery, and the positive cable end to the positive terminal of the booster battery. Attach the black cable end to the negative terminal of the dead battery, and the far end of the black cable to an engine nut of the booster car.

4. Turn on the ignition key of the car with the dead battery. When the car is running, carefully disconnect the battery cables, being careful not to let the cable ends touch each other. Allow your car to run for at least an hour to charge the battery before turning it off.

5. Repeat step 4 if necessary. If your car doesn’t start after running for an hour, repeat steps 4 and 5. The longer your car runs, the better charge the battery will receive.

Jumping your battery can be a life-saver when you’re in a pinch, but it’s important to be safe. Safety glasses, closed-toe shoes, and work gloves will ensure you protect yourself when jump starting your car. And it’s always a good idea to check with a qualified mechanic if your battery doesn’t respond to being jumped. They can inspect your battery and electrical system and make sure all of your battery’s cables are in good shape.