What are the steps for jump-starting a car with another car?

[RowanMarie]

1. First, prepare a set of jumper cables, open the hoods of both vehicles, and remove the battery clamps to open the battery cover. 2. After opening, you can see the positive and negative terminals of the battery, where '+' is the positive terminal and '-' is the negative terminal. 3. Finally, connect the positive terminals of both cars together and the negative terminals together. This completes the battery jump-start. Additional details are as follows: 1. During the connection process, always remember not to connect the positive and negative terminals of the jumper cables together, and avoid letting the red positive cable touch the car body, as this can cause a battery short circuit. 2. After connection, ensure all connection points are secure. Otherwise, large sparks may occur at the connection points, potentially damaging the battery terminals and increasing circuit resistance, which may still prevent the car from starting. 3. Also, the rescue vehicle should not be turned off and should maintain an engine speed of over 2000 RPM to use the alternator's power to supplement the battery and avoid draining its own battery. 4. After the rescued vehicle starts, let it run at high speed for a while to charge the battery. If the alternator is functioning properly, about ten minutes of charging should provide enough power for one engine start. When disconnecting the jumper cables, follow the exact opposite order of the connection process.

[TheoLynn]

I've been driving for over a decade and have encountered numerous jump-start situations. First, park the two vehicles nose-to-nose, turn off the engines, and confirm power is cut. Connect the red cable clamp to the dead battery's positive terminal first, then attach it to the rescue vehicle's positive terminal. The black cable should first clamp onto the rescue vehicle's negative terminal, with the other end attached to a metal part of the stalled car's engine—never directly to the battery's negative terminal. This detail is crucial, as sparks could ignite battery gases. Next, start the rescue vehicle's engine and let it idle for five minutes to charge the battery. Then attempt to start the stalled vehicle; if successful, maintain steady throttle for five minutes for charging and discharging. Finally, disconnect the cables in reverse order: first remove the stalled car's negative, then the rescue vehicle's negative; followed by the rescue vehicle's positive, and lastly the stalled car's positive. Keep gloves on throughout the entire process and ensure metal tools stay clear of the battery area for safety.

[LeJace]

Just helped my neighbor with this last week, even a beginner can handle it. Park the two cars as close as possible, preferably facing each other, and keep the engines off throughout the process. Take out the jumper cables, starting with the red clamps: attach one to the positive terminal of the dead battery, then the other to the positive terminal of the rescue car. Next, attach the black clamp to the negative terminal of the rescue car, and the other end should not touch the battery; instead, clamp it onto an unpainted metal part of the dead car's engine block or a suspension bolt to prevent sparking hazards. After starting the rescue car, let it run for three minutes to charge, then start the dead car. Once it's running, don't turn it off immediately; let it run for ten to fifteen minutes. When removing the cables, disconnect the black clamp from the dead car first, then from the rescue car, and follow the same order for the red clamps. Avoid turning on the air conditioning during the entire process to prevent voltage spikes. If the battery is damaged and leaking, call for professional help immediately—safety first.

[SanLeah]

As a car repair enthusiast, this job requires attention to sequence. After both vehicles are turned off and parked close together, first connect the red clamp to the positive terminal of the stalled car, then to the positive terminal of the rescue car. Attach the black clamp to the negative terminal of the rescue car first, and connect the other end to a metal part of the stalled car's engine. Start the rescue car and charge for two minutes, then attempt to start the stalled car. Once successfully started, let the stalled car idle to recharge. When removing the cables, strictly follow this order: first disconnect the end of the black clamp, then the black clamp from the rescue car; next remove the red clamp from the rescue car, and finally the red clamp from the stalled car. Keep the entire process under ten minutes to avoid draining the rescue car's battery. Additional tips: In winter, clean oxidation from the battery terminals with a wire brush before starting; in summer, avoid operating at midday heat—both will improve success rates.

[GabrielLynn]

Last time I helped a colleague jump-start their car, I found the most common mistake was in the final steps. During the preparation phase, ensure both cars are within half a meter of each other with engines off, and the batteries must stay clear of water or oil. When connecting the cables, attach the red clamp to both positive terminals first. The key step is with the negative terminal: first clamp the black cable to the donor car’s negative terminal, then attach the other end to the engine bracket bolt of the stalled car—avoiding the battery itself for safety. After starting the donor car and charging for three minutes, the stalled car has the highest chance of starting. Once the car is running, don’t rush to leave; let it idle for at least five minutes. When removing the cables, reverse the order: first disconnect the black clamp from the stalled car, then from the donor car; next remove the red clamp from the donor car, and finally from the stalled car. Throughout the process, ensure the clamps don’t touch each other and the cables avoid the exhaust pipe. After finishing, let the stalled car run for half an hour to stabilize the charge.