Dead Battery? No Crank? Best Way to Jumpstart Your Car: How to Do It, and Why!, by 1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know on YouTube. 10 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Park the two cars close but not touching, with both engines off and both parking brakes set. Open both hoods and locate each battery.
Check both batteries for cracks, leaks or corrosion. If you see damage or a strong acid smell, do not jump it and call for help.
Put on safety glasses and gloves. Make sure the jumper cable clamps are not touching each other.
Clamp one end of the red cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Positive posts are marked with a plus sign.
Clamp the other end of the red cable to the positive terminal of the good battery.
Clamp one end of the black cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.
Clamp the other end of the black cable to bare metal on the dead car, such as an engine bracket or frame bolt. Avoid fuel lines and moving parts.
Start the good car and let it run for a minute or two. Then try to start the dead car.
Once the dead car runs, remove the cables in reverse order: black from the car, black from the good battery, red from the good battery, red from the dead car.
Let the jumped car run for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or drive it, so the alternator can recharge the battery.
Tips and common mistakes
Never connect the final black clamp to the dead battery's negative post, since a spark there can ignite hydrogen gas.
Keep the clamps from touching each other or any metal while the cables are live.
If the car still will not crank after a few tries, the battery or starter may be faulty, so stop and test the battery.
Check for loose or corroded battery terminals, since a bad connection can mimic a dead battery.
Questions
Which cable do I connect first?
Connect the red positive cable first, then the black negative cable. Remove them in the reverse order when you are done.
Can I jumpstart a car with a portable jump pack?
Yes. Connect the red clamp to the positive post and the black clamp to a metal ground, then turn the pack on and start the car.
Why does the car still not start after jumping?
The battery may be too far gone, or the starter, alternator or cables may be faulty. Have the battery and charging system tested.
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.
