How to Jump Start a Car

Get a dead battery running again safely using jumper cables and a second vehicle.

1. Park the working car nose-to-nose with the dead car, turn both off

   Make sure the vehicles aren't touching each other and both are in Park (or neutral for manual).

2. Connect the RED cable: dead battery positive (+) first, then working battery positive (+)

   The positive terminal is usually marked with a "+" and may have a red cap.

3. Connect the BLACK cable: working battery negative (-) first, then clamp the other end to bare metal on the dead car's engine block

   Use an unpainted bolt or bracket away from the battery. Never connect directly to the dead battery's negative terminal — this avoids sparks near the battery.

4. Start the working car and let it run for 2-3 minutes, then start the dead car

   If the dead car won't turn over, wait another few minutes and try again. If it still won't start after 3-4 attempts, the battery may need replacing.

5. Remove cables in reverse order: black from engine block, black from working battery, red from working battery, red from dead battery

   Drive the jumped car for at least 15-20 minutes to recharge the battery. Avoid turning it off right away.