How to Jump Start your Car

Step 1 - Get the Right Equipment for Your Car

Before anything else, you will need another car to stop and offer help. But you can't
count on just anyone to be kind enough to pull over AND to also have the proper
jump-start equipment. Meet your fellow motorists halfway by making room in the
trunk of your car for 100-percent-copper heavy gauge (4-8 gauge) jumper cables.
You want your cables to be at least 30m long so that they are easier to use with
most types of vehicles.

Step 2 - Make Sure Your Battery Can Be Jump-Started

If your battery is damaged beyond repair, you shouldn't waste your time trying to
jump-start the car. There are several ways to check for this damage. If your battery
has vent caps, look inside to check if the electrolyte solution inside the battery has
frozen. If it has, there is no need to look any further - you should jump away instead
of jump-start. You should also jump-away instead of jump-start if you find any cracks
in the battery casing or if there is a whitish residue around the battery terminals.
This type of corruption is often bad news.

Step 3 - Before Attaching the Cables

After establishing that your battery can be jump-started, check to make sure the
battery of the other driver's car is of a voltage that matches yours. It probably will,
but you should make sure. Both cars' ignitions should be off, and the cars must not
be touching at any junctures.

Step 4 - Attach the Cables

On each battery, locate the 2 metal terminals. One is marked positive (+); the other
is marked negative (-). Attach one end of the cable to your battery's positive
terminal. Attach the other end of the same cable to the positive terminal in the
other car. Attach one end of the other cable to the negative terminal of the battery
in the other person's vehicle. Attach the other end to the engine block, or frame of
your vehicle. DO NOT attach the negative cable to the dead battery itself or
anywhere near the battery.

Step 5 - Start It Up!

Start the car with the working battery and stand back. After a minute, try to start
your car. If your car doesn't start, give it a few moments longer. If your car still
doesn't start, it probably won't.

Step 6 - Go On Your Way!

Disconnect yourself from your new friend's car in the reverse order that you
connected. In other words, remove the second cable from the newly started car's
frame and then from the helper car's battery. Then remove the first cable from the
helper car and then from the one that just got started. Thank the Good Samaritan
that stopped to help and get back on the road. After all, you've got places to go!