#JUMP STARTING A CAR HOW TO#

First, take one lead of the positive cable (usually marked in red or orange) and connect it to the positive terminal (+) of the dead battery. Once the cars are in the right place and turned all the way off, you can start connecting the cables.

вЂњSo when you make the connection you will have sparks, and sparks are scary.вЂќ Cable Connection Order вЂњIf ignition is on, then you have more of a load than just a dead battery,вЂќ Hines says. Yes, that means the car with the dead battery as well. The next step? After you get the cars parked close enough where a connection can be made, make sure both cars are completely, totally shut off. You want to ensure theyвЂ™ll be able to make a good connection between the two car batteries without grounding out on another part of the car. ItвЂ™s also a good idea to inspect the cables themselves for signs of damage or exposed wire. And an explosion with battery acid is not a party you want to get into.вЂќ вЂњThereвЂ™s a possibility that it could explode. вЂњIf you suspect at all the dead battery is frozen, do not try to jump start it,вЂќ he tells us. That means it can freeze and expand if itвЂ™s left out in the cold. Over time, the acidвЂ™s potency can weaken to the point where the liquid is mostly just water. Most car batteries contain a liquid thatвЂ™s part sulfuric acid and part water. If a battery is swollen beyond its normal dimensions, you could have an even bigger problem on your hands, according to Hines. Not everyone has the luxury of discovering they have a dead battery while their car is nestled somewhere safe and away from the elements. Their uses are limited, as Hines points out. Charger boxes and trickle chargers, most often found in mechanic shops and storage facilities, are used to keep projects or stored vehicles charged as they sit for long periods of time. вЂњMy first choice would be to use a battery charger if you were in a situation with a dead battery,вЂќ Hines tells Road & Track. Your manufacturerвЂ™s suggestions may differ from the instructions below.

#JUMP STARTING A CAR HOW TO#

If anyone understands how to bring an electrically-starved car back from the dead, itвЂ™s him.Д«efore you read any further, we suggest consulting your carвЂ™s ownerвЂ™s manual for exact instructions on how to jump-start your vehicle. Hines is North AmericaвЂ™s only factory-certified McLaren F1 technician, which means his day job revolves around working on $20-million exotics. Road & Track spoke with Kevin Hines, senior technician at McLaren Philadelphia, to learn the correct way to revive a dead battery and jump-start a car safely. Looking for how to jump a car through the air? Click here for our step-by-step guide. HereвЂ™s a step-by-step guide on how to revive your car and get you back on the move, with tips from an expert mechanic. A dead battery in your car can mean the difference between getting home safely and being stuck somewhere for hours.

Jump starting a car