How to Jumpstart a Car or Truck

If you leave your headlights on or the radio on too long while you work outside, your battery will run down and die. Then your car won’t start and you’ll need a jump. This sounds easy enough until you find yourself with the hood open and no clue what to do next.

Jumper Cables

If your vehicle is prone to breakdowns or you have an older (and faulty) battery, you should carry a set of jumper cables around with you at all times. Throw them in the trunk, and you’ll never have to worry about getting stranded – so long as there is someone nice enough to jump you. You can buy jumper cables at any automotive store that sells car or truck parts. Ironically enough you can also buy a new battery if you have an old one, but I digress.

Align the Engines

Jumper cables are long, but they will require the two engines be close together. As your car isn’t moving, you should ask your new best friend to pull in facing your car or next to it and then stretch the jumper cables between you.

Affix the Cables

To get the right currents, you should use the color coding of the jumper cables to guide you in placing them on the battery. Both cars should be turned off, and before you affix anything to your battery, check your owner’s manual to be sure there isn’t a special way to jump your car. You’ll want to protect the onboard computers from rouge electrical currents. When you’re sure your car is okay to jump (according to the manufacturer), get ready to hook up the cables.

The red cable and hook attaches to the positive terminal on each of the batteries. The black cable, or the negative cable goes on any unpainted metal surface in the engine where it can ground out – such as a bolt or bracket. The other black cable should be clamped the same way on your best friend’s car.

Jump Your Car

Once all four cables are attached, try starting your previously dead engine. If it doesn’t start, reposition your red cable and try again. Try a few more times until your engine catches. Then leave your car running while you carefully remove the clamps in reverse order one at a time.

Allow your engine to run for thirty minutes to allow the battery to fully charge. You can idle or drive and it will charge again.

Of course, you should also be sure you are following up on regular can and truck maintenance to identify any serious problems that might occur with your battery before they begin.

Easy Step By Step

1. 1. Acquire a pair of jumper cables
2. 2. Align the engines
3. 3. Attach the cables
4. 4. Start the assisting vehicle
5. 5. Wait 10 minutes
6. 6. Remove the cables
7. 7. Start your vehicle

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions

Be careful not to touch your two cable leads together when it is attached to the assisting vehicle. While 12 volts is not a lot of electricity, and there are not a lot of amps to be worried about, there is enough power that it can still make you really regret getting careless.

If you are having a hard time finding jumper cables, try asking someone near a local store if they have a set you can borrow

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