How to Jump Start Your Old Car

Battery dilemma; we've all had them, usually at the most tiresome time. But, if you are prepared and know what to do you won't be held up long. This article will tell you how to jump start your car's battery. Jump starting is rather easy, but it must be done right to avoid disastrous results. If done wrong your car can explode or damage the electrical system, not to mention serious injuries can be incurred by people nearby. Here are several rules to follow when jump starting a car.

At all times use good quality jumper cables; do not use cables that are broken or cracked. Before jump-starting one should take a look at the battery to make sure all the cables are resolutely attached to the battery. Check the battery posts and clean them if there is a build up of battery acid. It will be a white powdery substance that can be scrapped off with a wire brush.

When jump-starting a car, it is optional that you wear protective glasses and insulated rubber gloves. Park the two cars involved in the jumping process nose to nose or close enough so that they can be attached with the cables. Put the cars in park and turn off the engines and all electrical draining systems like the radio. Put the parking brake on.

You will join the first cable to the car that is providing the jump, (the car whose battery is working). Hook up the positive cable, usually the red clamps or the one marked with a plus + sign to the post of the positive (+) terminal on the battery. Now attach the positive or other red clamp to the positive terminal post on the dead battery of the car receiving the jump-start. Be very cautious not to touch the positive and negative together or you can destroy the good battery.

The next step is to connect the clamp of the negative to the negative terminal post of the good battery. Connect the other end of the negative or black clamp to an unpainted metallic surface like an engine bolt on the car with the dead battery. DO NOT put the negative clamp on the negative terminal post on the dead battery since the battery can ignite and cause an explosion.

At this time, start the car with the good battery, press on the gas peddle slightly and then release. You should let it idle. When you are ready to start the car with the dead battery just turn the key on and don't crank the starter for an excessively long time. If it didn't start immediately give the ignition a few minutes to cool off and then try it again. You can check to see the clamps are properly attached to the battery posts.

When the car cranks you may remove the jumper cables. Remove them in the reverse order that you put them on, making sure that none of the clamps touch the other. You will now need to drive or run the car with the previously dead battery for at least 15 minutes to revitalize the battery.

Here are some instructions on jump starting your car and reviving a dead battery. I will show you step by step everything you need to know to jump start a car with a dead battery. I will also show you photos of the correct jumper cable setup, troubleshooting tips, preventative tips, battery & alternator buying tips. Print this page & keep it in your trunk with the jumper cables.

The 3 major causes of dead batteries are leaving your lights on, not keeping your battery properly serviced with the correct water levels, and breakdown of the diode bridge or voltage regulator in your alternator. Of course some people get a bad starter, but the chances of that happening are very low.

It is very important to read your owner's manual, as it will explain any peculiarities involved in jump-starting your vehicle. Pull a car with a charged battery next to the car with the dead battery, situating the two batteries as close together as you can without allowing the two cars to touch.Turn off both engines, pull out the keys, put both cars in park, engage the emergency brakes and open the hoods fasten a red-handled/positive jumper cable clamp to the positive terminal of the charged battery.

Connect the other red-handled clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Connect the neighboring black/negative cable to the car with the dead battery. Clamp it somewhere where the current can ground out, such as a bolt or bracket on the engine. You can also attach it to any metal, unpainted part of the vehicle's frame. Ground the other black/negative cable on the charging car, as described in the previous step.

Be careful, as a small spark may be produced. Attempt to start the car that has the dead battery. Re-adjust the red/positive clamp on the dead car if there is no response; try reclaiming it to the terminal or turning it for a better connection. Keep trying to start the dead car. Once the dead car is running, remove the clamps one at a time in reverse order. Allow the jump-started car to run for half an hour in order to charge the battery. It will charge if you are driving or idling.