Jump Starting A Car: Because You’re Supposed to Know How to Do This, Right?

Next time, you can be the one to jump in and help.

When any woman walks into a car and it won’t start, they call the immediate male members of the family.

Because you’re supposed to automatically know what to do, right? Now, instead of making the excuse that you’re tied up and telling them to call Chaveirim, you can get the job done once and for all. It’s actually really easy. 

You will need to keep a set of jumper cables in your car. Order a set here. You will need to borrow a car too, unless it’s not your own car that you’re jumping.

Bring the car as close as possible to the hood of your car. Turn off the engine. 

Now, open the hoods of both cars. 

1. Clamp the positive (red or yellow) cable to the positive terminal of the weak battery.
2. Clamp the other end of the positive cable to the positive terminal of the good battery.
3. Clamp the negative cable (black) to the negative terminal of the good battery.
4. Clamp the other end of the negative cable to a clean metal part of the engine (like a bolt head or bracket) in the car with the weak battery. 
5. Now start the car with the good battery, let it charge the weak battery for 5 minutes, then try to start the car with the weak battery. If it doesn’t start, shut off both ignitions, make sure the cable clamps are making good contact and then try it again. When the car with the weak battery starts, wait (about 15 seconds or so) to make sure it doesn’t stall. A weak battery needs to run for a bit, to make sure it doesn’t die out again. Let your car run. But you can disconnect from the “good car.”
6. Disconnect the cables in the reverse order: First remove the negative cable from the car you jumped, then the negative cable from the car with the good battery. Then remove the positive cable from the car with the good battery (don’t touch a grounded part of either car with the clamp of the positive cable). Finally, remove the positive cable from the car with the weak battery. Remember, both engines will be running (with any luck!), so work carefully as you remove cables to avoid belts, fans and other moving parts.
7. Shut your hoods. You’re good to go!