how to jump a car with jumper cables

2 hours ago 2

To jump-start a car with jumper cables, follow these expert steps carefully to ensure safety and effectiveness:

Park both cars close enough so the jumper cables can reach but ensure the vehicles do not touch.
Turn off both vehicles, set them in park or neutral, and engage the parking brakes.
Open the hoods and locate the batteries or designated jump-start terminals if the battery is not under the hood.
Check that neither battery is leaking, frozen, or damaged, and that both batteries have the same voltage (usually 12 volts)

Red cable to dead battery: Attach one red clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.
Red cable to donor battery: Attach the other red clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the donor (working) battery.
Black cable to donor battery: Attach one black clamp to the negative (−) terminal of the donor battery.
Black cable to metal ground: Attach the remaining black clamp to an unpainted metal part of the dead car’s engine block or chassis, away from the battery. Do not connect this clamp directly to the dead battery’s negative terminal to avoid sparks and potential hazards

Start the engine of the donor vehicle and let it run for 1–2 minutes to charge the dead battery.
Attempt to start the car with the dead battery. If it doesn’t start, wait a few more minutes and try again.
Once the dead car starts, let both engines run for several minutes to stabilize the charge

Remove the cables in the reverse order of connection:
1. Black clamp from the grounded metal on the previously dead car.
2. Black clamp from the donor battery’s negative terminal.
3. Red clamp from the donor battery’s positive terminal.
4. Red clamp from the previously dead battery’s positive terminal.
After disconnecting, keep the jumped car running and drive it for at least 30 minutes to recharge the battery fully

Avoid touching the clamps together during the process.
Keep metal objects and open flames away from the batteries.
Consult the vehicle’s owner manual for any model-specific instructions or precautions

By following these steps, you can safely and effectively jump-start a car using jumper cables.