How to Jump Start a Car (With Jumper Cables or a Jump Box), by Ethos Car Care on YouTube. 3 min 36 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 36 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park the cars nose to nose or side by side without touching. Set both parking brakes, turn off the engines and switch off lights, radio and AC.
Open the hood and find the battery. If it is not up front, look for the positive and negative jump points under a plastic cover.
For a jump pack, clamp the red lead to the positive terminal and the black lead to the negative terminal or ground point.
Turn the jump pack on and start the dead car. Once it runs, remove the black clamp first, then the red one.
With jumper cables, clamp red to the dead car's positive terminal first, then red to the good car's positive.
Clamp black to the good car's negative terminal, then black to a bare metal ground on the dead car, away from the battery.
Start the good car and let it run a minute. Then start the dead car. If it does not catch, wait two minutes and try again.
Remove the clamps in reverse order: black from the dead car, black from the good car, red from the good car, red from the dead car.
Drive the revived car for at least 20 to 30 minutes so the alternator can recharge the battery.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let the red and black clamps touch each other or any metal while connected.
Do not clamp the black lead to the dead battery's negative post if you can reach a metal ground instead.
Check for cracks, leaks or a swollen battery case before you connect anything.
A jump pack holds its charge for months, so top it up every few months and keep it in the car.
Questions
Can I jump start a car with a dead battery using only a jump pack?
Yes. A charged jump pack connects straight to the battery terminals and starts the car without a second vehicle. Make sure the pack is charged and rated for your engine size.
Why does the car crank but not start after jumping?
The battery may be too far gone, or the problem may be the starter, fuel or ignition rather than the battery. If it will not start after two tries, stop and get help.
Is it safe to jump start a modern car with lots of electronics?
Yes, if you follow the clamp order and use a ground point away from the battery. Check the owner's manual first, since some cars have specific jump points.
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.
