Here's the scene. It's your birthday. When you were 16, your parents surprised you by giving you an all-new Dodge Dart. This birthday, you are 17 or 18. Your parents hand you a nicely-wrapped gift. It may not be the size of a car, but you still get an instant feeling of excitement. You quickly unwrap it hoping for something amazing when you discover a set of jumper cables beneath that colorful wrapping paper. The disappointment is so loud it actually creates a thud as it drops deep inside you. You probably have a hard time smiling or even figuring out how to say thank you for such a ridiculous gift – especially when your parents are laughing from the corner of the room. “Happy Birthday!” they shout. The thought that your parents are crazy booms loudly in your head.
Fast forward several years to the present. While you may have traded in your old Dodge Dart for the new-and-improved 2016 model, you'll always remember that odd, jumper-cable birthday. Now you realize a weird joke back then has become one of the best, most useful presents you've ever received. In fact, you still have them in the backseat of your Dodge Dart where they save your butt time and time again. If you could only tell your younger self to appreciate the gift, right?
Jumper cables are a much-needed tool for the days your car battery decides to bale on you. It's also very important to know exactly how to use them and how to use them safely. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to jump a car from dead to alive.
- Park both cars close enough to each other that jumper cables can easily reach each other, allowing for space to step inside. Turn off both cars.
- Open the hood of each car and locate the both batteries. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) posts/terminals on each battery.
- Clamp one of the positive (RED) jumper cable clamps onto the dead battery's positive battery terminal. Ensure the clamp grips the battery terminal so it will produce a strong, electrical connection. During this time, also make sure to keep the matching negative (black) cable clamp away from any metal surfaces.
- Clamp the other end of the positive jumper cable (RED) to the positive battery terminal of the working car.
- Connect the negative cable end (black) to the negative battery terminal in the working car.
- Attach the remaining negative cable to an unpainted metal surface on the engine of the dead battery. You can also use the negative terminal.
- Start the working car, letting it idle for several minutes. This will allow it to build up a sufficient charge in order to start the dead battery.
- Start the car with the dead battery, letting both cars idle for several minutes.
- Once the jump-started car is running smoothly, carefully disconnect the jumper cables in reverse order. First remove the cable that's negative cable attached to the formerly dead battery. Be sure to hold this cable away from any metal or the other cables while disconnecting the other cables.
- Drive the jump-started car for at least 20 minutes so the alternator can recharge the battery.
For more car tips and tricks, visit our dealership in Emmaus, PA.