How To Jump Start A Car Battery with Scotty Kilmer, by YourMechanic on YouTube. 3 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park the good car close to the dead one but not touching. Turn both engines off and put both in park or neutral with the handbrake on.
Open both hoods and find each battery. Look for the positive and negative posts and check for cracks, leaks or heavy corrosion before you connect anything.
Clamp one red cable end to the positive post of the dead battery. Clamp the other red end to the positive post of the good battery.
Clamp one black cable end to the negative post of the good battery. Clamp the other black end to a bare metal bolt or bracket on the dead car's engine, away from the battery.
Start the good car and let it run for a minute or two. Then try to start the dead car. If it does not catch, wait a few minutes and try again.
Once the dead car runs, remove the cables in reverse order: black from the engine, black from the good battery, red from the good battery, red from the dead battery.
Keep the revived car running for at least 20 to 30 minutes of driving so the alternator can recharge the battery.
If you are alone, use a jump pack instead. Connect its red clamp to the positive post and its black clamp to a metal ground, then switch the pack on and start the car.
Remove the jump pack clamps in reverse order once the engine runs, and recharge the pack before storing it in the car.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let the red and black clamps touch each other while connected to a battery.
Connect the last black clamp to bare metal, not the dead battery's negative post, to reduce spark risk near battery gas.
Wear safety glasses and keep your face back from the battery, since a weak battery can spark or leak acid.
If the car still will not start after two tries, stop and call for help rather than cranking the starter repeatedly.
Questions
Can I jump start a car with a jump pack alone?
Yes. A charged portable jump pack lets one person start a car without a second vehicle. Clamp red to positive and black to a metal ground, then start the engine.
How long should I drive after a jump start?
Drive for at least 20 to 30 minutes at normal speed. Short trips may not recharge the battery enough, so a longer drive or a battery charger is better.
Why does the car click but not start after jumping?
A clicking sound often means the battery is too flat or the connection is poor. Check that the clamps bite clean metal and try again, or the battery may need replacing.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
