If you’ve ever turned the key in your car’s ignition and heard nothing but silence, you know how frustrating it can be to have a dead battery. Luckily, jumpstarting your car is a relatively easy process that can get you back on the road in no time. Here’s how to do it safely.
What You’ll Need
To jumpstart your car, you’ll need a few things:
Jumper Cables: These are the cables that connect your car’s dead battery to another car’s working battery.
Another Car: You’ll need another car with a working battery to jumpstart your car.
Safety Gear: Wear safety glasses and gloves to protect yourself from any sparks or battery acid.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Park the working car next to the dead car so that the batteries are as close to each other as possible.
- Turn off both cars and make sure the keys are out of the ignition.
- Attach the red jumper cable to the positive terminal on the dead battery.
- Attach the other end of the red cable to the positive terminal on the working battery.
- Attach the black jumper cable to the negative terminal on the working battery.
- Attach the other end of the black cable to an unpainted metal surface on the dead car’s engine block, away from the battery.
- Start the working car and let it idle for a few minutes.
- Try to start the dead car. If it doesn’t start, wait a few more minutes and try again.
- Once the dead car starts, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that you attached them: first the black cable from the dead car’s engine block, then the black cable from the working battery’s negative terminal, then the red cable from the working battery’s positive terminal, and finally the red cable from the dead battery’s positive terminal.
- Let both cars run for a few minutes to allow the battery to recharge.
Tips for Jumpstarting Safely
- Make sure the cars are in park or neutral with the emergency brake on.
- Never allow the jumper cables to touch each other or any metal parts of the car.
- Never attempt to jumpstart a battery that is cracked or leaking.
- If the dead battery is more than five years old, it might not hold a charge and should be replaced.
- If the car still won’t start after jumpstarting, it might be a sign of a larger problem and should be taken to a mechanic.
- Jumpstarting a car is a simple and safe process as long as you take the proper precautions.
- Remember to always wear safety gear and follow the step-by-step instructions carefully.
If you’re not comfortable jumpstarting your car, don’t hesitate to call a professional for help. In Philadelphia, PA, All Roadside Services is the premier emergency roadside assistance company ready to respond to your location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.