How to - Jump Starting a Car // Supercheap Auto, by Supercheap Auto on YouTube. 2 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park the two cars close together but not touching. Turn both engines off, set the handbrakes and open both bonnets.
Find the positive and negative terminals on each battery. Look for the plus and minus marks or the red and black caps.
Connect one red clamp to the positive terminal of the flat battery. Connect the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the good battery.
Connect a black clamp to the negative terminal of the good battery. Connect the last black clamp to a bare metal bolt or bracket on the engine of the flat car, away from the battery.
Check that no clamp is touching another clamp or a moving part. Start the engine of the car with the good battery and let it run for a minute.
Start the car with the flat battery. If it does not start, wait a few minutes and try again.
Once the flat car is running, remove the clamps in reverse order. Take off the black clamp from the engine first, then the black clamp from the good battery, then both red clamps.
Keep the revived car running for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or drive it, so the alternator can recharge the battery.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let the red and black clamps touch each other while any clamp is connected, as this can cause a spark.
Do not lean over the battery while connecting or disconnecting the cables.
If the battery is cracked, leaking or frozen, do not jump start it. Call for help instead.
Connect the final black clamp to bare metal on the engine, not to the negative terminal of the flat battery, to reduce spark risk near the battery.
Questions
Can I jump start a car with a jump starter pack instead of another car?
Yes. Connect the pack's red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to bare metal on the engine, then start the car. Follow the pack's own instructions for the order.
Why does the car not start after connecting the cables?
The battery may be too flat, the clamps may not have a good grip, or the cables may be too thin. Check the connections and let the good car run for a few more minutes before trying again.
Do I need to turn off the good car's engine while connecting the cables?
Yes. Turn both engines off before connecting the cables, then start the good car's engine before you try to start the flat car.
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.
