How to jump start a car with a battery jump starter or jump leads, by Ultimate Handyman on YouTube. 5 min 31 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 31 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park the second car close enough for the leads to reach, or rest the jump starter on a steady surface near the battery. Switch both engines off.
Open the bonnet and find the battery. Identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals. Some cars hide the battery under a plastic cover or in the boot.
Using a jump starter pack, clamp the red lead to the positive terminal, then the black lead to the negative terminal or a metal earth point.
Switch the jump starter on, wait a few seconds for it to power up, then turn the ignition key or press the start button.
Using jump leads, connect one red clamp to the positive terminal of the flat battery, then the other red clamp to the positive of the good battery.
Connect a black clamp to the negative of the good battery, then the last black clamp to a bare metal bolt on the dead car, away from the battery.
Start the donor engine and let it idle for two or three minutes, then try starting the car with the flat battery.
Disconnect in reverse order: black from the dead car, black from the good car, red from the good car, red from the flat car.
Drive the car or let the engine run for at least 20 minutes so the alternator can recharge the battery.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let the red and black clamps touch each other or any bare metal while connected.
Batteries give off hydrogen gas, so wear safety glasses, remove rings and watches, and do not lean over the battery.
On modern cars, always make the final negative connection to a metal earth point rather than the battery post.
Check your jump starter is charged every few months so it works when you actually need it.
Questions
Can I jump start a car with a completely dead battery?
Usually yes, but a totally flat battery may need a few minutes connected before it will crank. If nothing happens after two attempts, the battery may be beyond saving.
Do I need the donor car engine running?
It helps. Run the donor engine for a couple of minutes before you try to start the flat car, and switch it off before you remove the leads.
How long should I drive after jump starting?
Drive for at least 20 to 30 minutes, ideally on open roads rather than stop-start traffic, to put charge back into the battery.
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.
