What is the correct procedure for jump-starting a car?
2 Answers
The correct procedure for jump-starting a car is: Park both vehicles facing each other and prepare two jumper cables. Open the hoods and connect the positive and negative terminals of both car batteries using the jumper cables—red to positive and black to negative. Start the rescue vehicle and let its engine idle. Attempt to start the stalled vehicle. If the battery is dead, the car should start quickly, and the alternator will begin charging the battery. Precautions for jump-starting: Before connecting the cables, ensure the engine is turned off. Follow the connection steps strictly: connect the positive terminal first, then the negative, and ensure the positive and negative terminals of both cars do not touch. The disconnection sequence is the reverse of the connection sequence—remove the negative cable first, then the positive. When purchasing jumper cables, choose genuine, quality-assured products. Opt for cables with an outer diameter of at least 10mm and a length of around 3 meters.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I've jump-started cars multiple times and know that the key lies in a safe and orderly process. First, park the two vehicles close to each other, turn off both engines, and engage the handbrake to prevent any movement. When using jumper cables, connect the red clamp to the positive terminal (marked with a +) of the donor car's battery, then attach the other end to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Connect the black clamp to the negative terminal (-) of the donor battery, but do NOT attach the other end directly to the negative terminal of the dead battery—instead, find an unpainted metal surface like an engine hook or chassis to avoid sparks that could cause battery explosion. Then start the donor car and let it run for about five minutes to charge the dead battery; afterward, attempt to start the stalled vehicle. Once it starts, don't drive off immediately—rev the engine for about ten minutes to continue charging. Remove the cables in reverse order: first disconnect the black clamp from the stalled car, then from the donor car; follow the same sequence for the red clamps. After jump-starting, it's advisable to visit a repair shop immediately to check if the battery is aging, preventing repeated failures. Regularly inspecting the cables for wear is also crucial—replace damaged ones promptly to ensure reliable emergency performance.
