How to Jump Start a Vehicle?

[Reyes]

The method to jump start a vehicle is: 1. Prepare two jumper cables and find a vehicle that can run normally; 2. Align the front parts of both vehicles, fix the jumper cables to the batteries, positive to positive, negative to negative; 3. Start the normal vehicle first, then start the vehicle being jump-started, and disconnect quickly after starting. The maintenance methods for vehicle batteries are: 1. Avoid parking the car in an open parking lot for a long time to prevent the battery from freezing and getting damaged; 2. The car engine is harder to start in winter, and each starting attempt should not exceed 5 seconds; 3. Start the car every once in a while to charge the battery in time; 4. Clean the battery terminals periodically and apply special grease to protect the wiring; 5. Do not use car electrical appliances after the engine is turned off.

[MacWyatt]

I've been driving for over 20 years and often help friends jump-start cars, so I'm quite experienced. Before jump-starting, park both cars close but not touching, with engines completely off. First step, take the jumper cables and attach the red clamp to the dead battery's positive terminal, usually marked in red. Second step, attach the other end of the red clamp to the live battery's positive terminal. Third step, attach the black clamp to the live battery's negative terminal. Fourth step, attach the other end of the black clamp to the dead car's engine block or metal frame—don't connect directly to the negative terminal to avoid dangerous sparks. Once set up, start the live car and wait a minute or two before starting the dead car. Remember to wear gloves and goggles for protection, and never operate in a garage or near oil. After a successful start, remove the black clamp first, then the red one. Jump-starting is simple but don't rush—wrong connections can cause a short circuit and damage components. I've seen many people hastily clamp randomly in emergencies, so it's best to always keep a tool kit handy for unexpected needs.

[DelConnor]

I had a dead battery not long after buying my car, and it was really stressful at the time. First, park a working car next to it and turn off the engine, making sure the distance between the two cars isn’t too far. When using jumper cables, pay attention to the colors—red connects to the positive terminal, and black connects to the negative. Start by attaching the red clamp to the dead car’s positive terminal, then to the working car’s positive terminal. Next, attach the black clamp to the working car’s negative terminal, and finally to an unpainted metal part of the dead car’s engine block or frame. After that, start the working car, wait a bit, and then try starting the dead car. If it works, remove the cables slowly, starting with the black ones first, then the red. When I was a beginner, I forgot to ground the connection and almost caused sparks—thankfully, my friend was there to remind me. Now, I know to check the battery regularly to avoid issues. The whole process isn’t too hard; beginners just need practice. Avoid using cheap cables, as poor quality can lead to electrical leaks.

[Catalina]

From a safety perspective, jump-starting carries significant risks. I insist on wearing protective goggles and gloves before operation, keeping away from flammable materials. The steps are: park both vehicles close with engines off, connect the red cable to the dead battery's positive terminal then to the good battery's positive, attach the black cable to the good battery's negative terminal and ground it, attempt ignition after starting the donor vehicle. The key is avoiding haste to prevent short circuits or spark damage to batteries. Perform in well-ventilated areas, never in enclosed spaces as battery acid may splash. Check battery health promptly after the procedure.