How to Jump Start a Dead Battery?
2 Answers
Connect one end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery, and the other end to the positive terminal of the rescue vehicle's battery. Then connect the black jumper cable to the negative terminal of the rescue vehicle's battery, and the other end to the engine block itself or a metal component on the engine block of the disabled vehicle. Identify the positive and negative terminals of the dead battery. Both batteries should have a voltage of 12 volts, and the capacity of the booster battery should be essentially the same as that of the dead battery.
Last time my car battery was dead, I called a friend to help jump-start it. First, we prepared a working car battery and a set of jumper cables, making sure both cars were turned off and not running. I was responsible for the dead car: the red clamp went to the positive terminal of my battery, and the other red clamp to his car's positive terminal. Then, I used the black clamp to attach to his battery's negative terminal, but the end of the black clamp was connected to a metal part of my engine, not the negative terminal, to avoid sparks. He started his car and waited about three to five minutes to let my battery charge a bit. Then, I tried turning the key to start the engine. It worked on the first try! When disconnecting, we did it in reverse order: first removing the black clamps, then the red ones, keeping hands clear of any metal. Following the steps correctly makes it safe and hassle-free. After jump-starting, it's recommended to drive around for half an hour to charge the battery, otherwise it might die again next time. Regularly check the battery fluid level and keep the terminals clean to prevent issues and avoid emergency roadside assistance. It's a simple process but shouldn't be taken lightly—I once made a mistake and damaged a small part, which cost some money to fix. Now, I've developed a habit of using the car regularly, which helps avoid such problems.
