By Terry Fung
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $1-$50
  1. Get a set of jumper cables at your nearest auto parts store.

  2. Drive a working car either next to or facing the car needing the jump.
  3. Open both cars' hoods.  Make sure both engines are turned off.  Make sure that the jumper cables reach both cars' batteries.
  4. Attach one end of the (usually red) jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the UNWORKING car's battery.
  5. Attach other end of that same (usually red) jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the WORKING car's battery.
  6. Attach one end of the  (usually black) jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal of the WORKING car's battery.
  7. Attach other end of that same (usually black) jumper cable to a metal surface (ground) on the UNWORKING car.
  8. Start the engine of the WORKING car.
  9. Try starting the engine of the UNWORKING car.
  10. Disconnect jumper cables in reverse order that they were put on.
  11. Once the UNWORKING car's engine starts, let it run for 15-20 minutes so that the battery can recharge.
Quick Tips:
The jumper cable that connects to the POSITIVE battery node is typically RED.
The jumper cable that connects to the NEGATIVE battery node is typically BLACK.
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Comments

Good article. Accurate and safe.

Here are some additional tips that I was taught about this.

Step seven: I've memorized the phrase "Heavy, unpainted metal engine part 1 to 2 feet from the battery." I find that "non-car" people understand it faster like that.

Step 11: Ideally the car should run for at least 15-30 minutes with a good portion of that time having the engine above idle speed.

By george somebody 2 years 8 weeks

    thank you. very accurate and safe. With the last comment, you can post this in a car manual.

    By James Goetz 1 year 27 weeks

      straight-to-the-point tips. thanks! i'd now be buying jumper cables

      Ae Dechavez's picture
      By Ae Dechavez 16 weeks 2 days