Even if you learned how to hook up jumper cables when you were in Driver’s Education, you probably haven’t a clue as to how to do it right now. If you don’t use it then you lose it. So, here is a little primer to help you out if you are sitting in a car with a dead battery right now.
How to Hook Up Jumper Cables
First! If your car is trying to start then the battery is not dead. Jumping the car won’t change what’s going on. Your issue is going to need some expertise by someone who really knows cars. If your car does nothing when you turn the key then here is some info on how to hook up jumper cables to get your car started.
Put your friend’s car in front of yours with both front bumpers facing each other, leaving a little room for you to walk through. It is easier to do it this way than it is side by side, if you have the room.
Make sure both cars are shut off. Make sure you never let a jumper cable clamp touch another one.
Take the red jumper clamp and connect it to the positive battery post on the dead battery. The battery post has this + on it.
Connect the other red jumper clamp to the positive battery post to the good battery. It has the + on it.
Put the black jumper clamp on the good battery’s negative battery post. The battery post has the – on it.
Take the other black jumper clamp to the dead battery’s car and clamp it on a spot on the engine block or something metal under the hood that is not painted and is clean.
Start the car with the good battery and let it run for 3 minutes. Then start the dead battery car. It should start right up!
To take off the jumper cables, follow the instructions above in the reverse order.
