How to Jump Start Dead Battery

1. Grab a Trusted Friend

First in how to jump-start a dead battery, you’ll need a working vehicle. If you have a trusted friend or family member with you, you can ask them to move their car next to yours, either side-by-side or with the bumpers together. If you’re alone when your battery dies, you can call a friend or roadside assistance.

Both cars should be in either park with the lights, radio, and other accessories turned off. You should also remove the keys from the cars.

2. Find the Terminals

Next, you’ll want to identify the terminals on your car battery. There will be two of them: one positive, which is marked with a plus sign, and one negative, which is marked with a minus sign. The manufacturer may also have installed indicators to help you find the terminals, such as a red cap on the positive terminal.

You may want to use a rag, napkin, or paper towel to clean off the terminals. Be careful if you notice a white or green-colored material on the terminals. This substance, caused by battery corrosion, could hurt your skin if you touch it with your bare hands.

3. Connect the Jumper Cables

Now, it’s time for the jumper cables! We recommend that all drivers keep a set of jumper cables inside their car trunks so you’ll have them on hand should the need arise. You can find them easily at an auto store.

Jumper cables have a red clamp at one end and a black clamp at the other. First, place the red clamps on the positive terminal of your dead battery followed by the positive terminal on your friend’s battery. Then, place one black clamp on your friend’s negative terminal.

Finally, place the remaining black clamp on a metal surface underneath your car hood. Make sure this surface is unpainted and far from your car battery. This added measure will prevent sparks and make it safer to jump your battery.

4. Start the Engine

Once you’ve confirmed that all the clamps are correct, tell your friend to start their car and let it run for a few minutes. You can try to start your dead car, though how many minutes it takes may vary.

If your battery starts, leave the car running, then remove the jumper cables in the following order. First, remove the black clamp on the dead battery, followed by the other black clamp, then the red clamp on the working car. Remove the red clamp on your battery last.

You should drive your car for at least 15 minutes after the jump to ensure the battery has enough time to recharge. Taking your car for longer drivers will help you elongate the battery life, so it’s a good idea to go for a spin around town now and again.