Jump-Starting a Weak or Dead Automobile Battery Correctly
When a motor vehicle battery fails, a jump start often is the best
short term way to get the motor going. Because it is important that
jump starting be done properly, the National Safety Council recommends
the following procedure:
- Position another vehicle with a healthy battery and your car so
they do not touch each other. Be sure both batteries are of the
same voltage.
- Read the owners' manuals for BOTH vehicles for any special
directions.
- Turn off the ignitions of both vehicles and set the parking
brakes. Place automatic transmissions in "Park" and
standard transmissions in neutral.
- Wear safety glasses and gloves while using cables.
- Unless given different directions in the owner's manual, use the
booster cables in this order:
- Clamp/connect one end of the positive (+) booster cable to
the positive (+) post of the dead battery.
- Connect the other end of the same cable to the same marked
post (+) of the booster battery.
- Connect the second, negative (-) booster cable to the other
post of the booster battery.
- Make the final negative (-) booster cable connection on the
engine block of the stalled vehicle away from the battery.
- Start the booster vehicle and let it run for a few minutes.
Then, start the disabled vehicle.
- Remove the cables in the reverse order of connection, being very
careful not to let the booster cable clamps touch each other or
come in contact with car parts. Also, avoid the fans of the
engines. Electric fans may run without the engine being on.
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