Help! How do I Jump Start a Car the Right Way?

  If the need arises where you need jump start your or someone elses car, it's always better to be prepared than panic. It is highly recommended to keep an emergency road bag in your vehicle at all times; flares, first aid kit, and a jumper cables. It is never a good feeling to be stranded on the side of the road so be proactive and protect yourself.

First and foremost you need to determine if the battery is the true reason for your mishap. If you are able to turn the key in the ignition and the engine makes a "cranking" noise, you have one of two options. A) crawl beneath your car and hit your starter with a hammer or B) call for a tow and let Auto House of Clovis take care of it. If you turn your key in the ignition and hear nothing then it is time to start jumpin'!

1) Be sure that the two vehicles are off the street and out of harm's way. It is crucial for your safety that both vehicles are turned off.

2) Connect one end of the red (positive) jumper cable to the positive terminal end on the stalled battery.
* Note: Most if not all batteries will have the positive and negative terminals clearly labeled.

3) Connect the other end of the red (positive again!) cable to the positive terminal end to the working battery. Remember... red = red.

4) Connect the black (negative) cable to the negative terminal of the stalled battery.

5) Now here's a bit of a adventure. Do not connect the other black (negative) end of the cable to the working battery. This will only induce sparks and could fry both batteries. Instead, connect it to a clean, unpainted, metal surface under the working car's hood (like the engine compartment.

6) Start the running vehicle and allow it to run for 2-3 minutes before starting the non-running vehicle. This is the "charging cycle".

7) Once the non-running vehicle is now running, remove the cables in the reverse order.

This is what happens when you connect the 2nd black cable incorrectly

8) Leave the newly running vehicle going for at least 20-30 minutes to allow the battery to recharge itself.

So, red = positive, positive and black = negative, and metal piece. Easy enough?

So what do I do if I don't have jumper cables?

Panic, call AAA, wait for a crazy person to pull over and kidnap you. NO!
There is a trick of the trade that most people do not know. However, this trick only works if you have a manual transmission.

1) Find a clear stretch of road, preferably with a downhill slope. Put the car in neutral and push it to the destination. If you don't have a hill, get some buddies to push you so you can gain momentum.

2) Press firmly on the clutch and shift into first gear.

3) Turn on the ignition.

4) Remove your foot from the brake to start rolling down the hill, but keep your foot on the clutch.

5) Coast down the hill until you reach about 5-7 MPH

6) Release the clutch quickly and you should feel the engine start. If it doesn't start the first time push the clutch and release it again.

Voila!

If you are in a really tight space and no one is willing or around to jump your car, there are products on the market that serve as "the other car" to give you a jump. Remember, be proactive and stock your car with these life saving supplies before disaster strikes.


Q: Is it possible to be electrocuted if you try to jump start a car in the rain?
A: No, the voltage a car battery gives off is not enough to cause lethal harm. However, it is strongly recommended you don't do this.

Well there you are. A complete guide on how to jump start a car the right way!

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