How to Safely Jump Start a Car

1Prepare and Inspect Vehicles

Caution: Do not use hybrid or electric vehicles as donor cars to avoid electrical system damage.

Consult your owner's manual first to ensure jump-starting is permitted and to locate the correct terminals ⁴. Do not use a hybrid or electric vehicle as the donor car, as this can damage their electrical systems ⁵. Park the donor vehicle close to the dead vehicle without letting them touch ¹. Turn off all ignitions and accessories in both cars ¹. Engage the parking brakes ¹. Inspect the dead battery for cracks, leaks, or bulging ¹. Do not attempt a jump start if the battery is damaged ¹.

2Connect the Jumper Cables

Caution: Avoid touching the metal clamps together or to the wrong terminals to prevent a short circuit and potential battery explosion.

Follow this specific order to prevent sparks ³. Connect the first red clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery ¹. Connect the second red clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the donor battery ¹. Connect one black clamp to the negative (-) terminal of the donor battery ¹. Connect the final black clamp to a solid, unpainted metal part of the dead car's engine block, at least 12-18 inches away from the battery ¹. Never connect the final black clamp to the negative terminal of the dead battery ¹.

3Start the Vehicles

Turn off the donor vehicle before making the final ground connection to prevent sparks ³. Start the donor vehicle and let it run for 5-10 minutes ³. This transfers a charge to the dead battery ¹. Attempt to start the dead vehicle ¹. Wait a few more minutes if it does not start on the first attempt ¹. Keep both engines running once the dead vehicle starts ¹. Note that a running engine is not a substitute for a properly charged battery; a deeply discharged battery may require a dedicated battery charger to reach a full state of charge ².

4Disconnect and Recharge

Disconnect the cables in the exact reverse order of connection ¹. Remove the ground clamp from the dead car first ¹. Remove the black clamp from the donor ¹. Remove the red clamp from the donor ¹. Remove the red clamp from the previously dead car ¹. Drive the vehicle for at least 30 minutes at speeds over 40 mph to allow the alternator to recharge the battery ⁴.