Jump Starting A Dead Car Battery: A Few Precautions

• Line both cars up so the batteries are as close as can be. Make sure the cars are in park, and both cars are turned off, and not touching each other before you connect the cables. Actually one of them is already off, or you wouldn't be in this predicament right? Make sure all headlights, blinkers, car radios and A/C's are off, radar detectors are unplugged, cell phones unplugged, everything off. Unplug all accessories from cigarette lighters and other power sockets from both cars. Jump starting a battery can crank 300+ volts through your system and the transients can destroy equipment.  These voltage spikes are caused by inrush current, into the inductances in your electrical system.
  
  
• Familiarize yourself with the Positive (+) and Negative (-) terminals of both car batteries so you know exactly which one is which. All batteries are clearly marked so if you can't find it, it's probably under 1/8" of caked on corrosion around the terminals. Wipe off any battery acid that may have leaked.
  
  
• If the battery is cracked and liquid is leaking out, DO NOT go further! Bite the bullet and go buy another battery and swap it out. If you try to jump start a battery with a crack in it, it will explode, and battery acid will dissolve your eyes (on the positive side though, it does get the red out). It makes no sense to jump a cracked battery, it will die in a few minutes.
  
  
• Try to clean off any corrosion around the dead battery terminals, and if you have tools, loosen the wires from the terminals, clean them off, then re-tighten the wires to the shiny posts. Corroded posts prevent the power from getting through the cables and into your battery to revive it.  If you have a file handy, try to file the metal battery posts until they are nice and shiny.  In a pinch use pliers to clamp down and scrape off corrosion too as the metal is somewhat soft.
  
  
• Usually the positive battery cable is red or orange, and usually the Negative (-) or ground cable is black, but always check for yourself to be sure.

Connecting The Car Battery Jumper Cables

The cables must be connected in this exact order listed below, 4 easy steps. Wear protective eyewear! Click on the thumbnail pictures here for a larger view

Why do the battery charger cables have to be connected in this order?
The reason why you connect the battery cables to the dead car battery first is you have 3 metal cable ends dangling and potentially touching metal car parts, so a dead battery is less likely to cause any sparking, since it has little or no voltage. So that is the safest starting point for your jumper cables. The 2nd battery cable clamp goes to the positive end of the good battery instead to minimize completing any circuits until we are ready to. Then the 3rd end of the battery cable goes to the ground of the good battery.  Remember, we still have not completed the circuit yet, until the 4th battery cable clamp is attached to ground.  This is why this order of attaching the battery cables to your car batteries is the safest way to do it. It minimizes unnecessary sparking until the charging circuit is completed.  This is good practice because excessive and unnecessary sparking could cause car batteries to fail.

Since the bad battery is weak, and to prevent exploding, it's ground clamp gets connected last, but not directly to the ground battery post. To prevent sparking directly on the battery, you connect the 4th battery cable clamp to a metal frame part of the dead car, which is connected to the minus pole of the battery. Many people are easily confused by this step. They cannot figure out how this completes the circuit to the battery.  Car batteries have their ground cable also wired to the chassis of the car, so by clamping to a good metal chassis point, this is electrically equivalent to connecting to the ground post of your car battery.

Dead Car Battery Starting Method # 1: Preferred method of starting the dead battery
Try this method before you try Method #2. A guy named Doug from Canada sent in this tip. He's boosted cars a lot in winter and has found that it's critically important to shut off the boosting car’s engine during the moments of actual cranking of the car with the dead battery. This does however reduce available power to the dead car because the boosting car's alternator isn't running, Doug has had a number of "live" boosts make the boosting car's alternator diodes either fail outright or die very prematurely from the extreme current draw on the alternator while cranking the engine on the bad car. So the safest method is to have the good engine running a few minutes to charge the dead battery. Then shut off the good car's engine and disconnect the cables and start the bad car's engine. This method does not always work, so if Method #1 does not work for you, try Method #2. Personally, I've never had a problem with Method #2, but the risk is there. I still think the best thing for you to use if your car is near a source of AC current, is a home car battery charger/jumper. In the Method #1 above, I might add that if you keep trying to crank the bad car and it won't start, then stop this process before you drain the good car's battery. You don't want 2 dead car batteries on your hands. You may need to start the good car's engine and proceed with original method.

Dead Car Starting Method # 2: Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
Start the good car's engine, and make sure the headlights are off, to allow the maximum amount of power to get to the dead battery. Let the good car's engine run a minute or so before attempting to start the dead car. Sometimes you get lucky and the dead battery will jump start right away, sometimes it takes a few minutes. If you're lucky and have a voltmeter built into your dash on the dead car, turn the key to the accessory setting and read the voltage coming into your charging system. Ideally you want between 12 and 13.6 volts, but some cars can start at 10 volts. If your dead car's interior dome light comes on, it's a great sign that you've connected the cables right. Now shut all doors and dome lights and try to start the car. If it sounds like it's trying to crank but won't turn over completely, give it a few more minutes and rev the engine moderately on the good car. You may also need to play with the cable grips to get a better connection, and use that in dash voltmeter to its fullest if you have one. You'll get a normal sparking as you move the cables around a bit. Let's assume your engine started ok, but if it did not start, see the troubleshooting section further down this page.

Removing the jumper cables
Now that your dead car has been successfully jump started, you can remove the cables in the reverse order that you connected them being careful not to let the battery cable clamps from touching each other:

1. Disconnect the Negative (-) cable from the engine block of the car that was jump started.  This breaks the circuit.
2. Disconnect the other end of the Negative(-) cable from the Negative (-) post of the good battery.
3. Disconnect the Positive (+) cable from the Positive (+) post of the good battery.
4. Disconnect the other end of the Positive(+) cable from the Positive (+) post of the dead battery.

IMPORTANT TEST: See if your formerly dead car can restart on its own now
Here's a test I do every time I jump start a car. After your revived car has been running a few minutes, turn off the engine and see if it will restart on its own, no cables attached. This is a good test to see if your charging system is working, and if successful, it's a good indicator that you won't have problems driving home. If the engine cannot crank on it's own, you'll have to jump start the car again and it may mean you'll have problems getting home. If your alternator is not putting out 13.6 volts, it means the battery is not charging. Turn on the headlights and if you have an in-dash voltmeter, see if it drops below 12 volts. Also press the brake pedal and see if the voltage drops, or if your dome lights dim. If it drops down to 10 volts, you may have a lot of trouble on the way home, in the form of your car stalling again when you hit the brakes. Sometimes if your alternator is in such bad shape, and can't put out even 12 volts after jump starting just pressing the brake pedal and illuminating the rear brake lights is enough to cause the car to stall. If your car does not restart on its own, it's a good sign that something is really wrong, either the battery, or your charging system.  Have someone follow you home.

Troubleshooting Tips
You tried the steps above and your car still won't start. Possible causes might be the dead battery is not getting voltage from the good battery due to bad cables, or the most common reason: a bad connection from good battery cables. Having a cheap voltmeter solves this problem in 2 seconds.

• If you have a voltmeter, measure the voltage across the dead battery posts and if it's less than 12 volts, play with the cables a bit to be sure you get a good connection. You'll see sparking as you adjust the clamps, which is normal. You may hear the other car's engine slow down a bit which is a good sign that your battery is now taking the charge from the other car. But you can see the usefulness of having a voltmeter when a battery can't be jump started.
  
  
• As a last resort, try disconnecting the Negative (-) cable from the dead car's engine block, and try moving it over to the Ground (-) post of the dead battery, if the dead battery is super clean and not leaking. Keep in mind there is always risk of battery explosion, but I've never had a problem. Wear protective eyewear! Don't be stupid! Don't take any chances. You'll sometimes get a better ground connection to the battery by clamping right to the ground (-) post instead of the engine block, but the engine block is safer. Be sure you are wearing eye and face protection in case the battery disagrees with your strategy. Remember, if you don't see your known instrument panel light up, or you working dome light turn on, then you don't have a good jumper cable connection.
  
  
• Try another set of battery charger cables. It could be that the charger cables you're using are no longer any good, or were just Barbie Doll cables to begin with.
  
  
• Verify once again that all appliances are off. Nothing should be on, the door should be closed during the cranking process so the dome light cannot come on, wasting precious battery voltage while trying to start.
  
  
• Double check that there is no corrosion, rust, paint, or anything other than nice shiny metal on the battery contact posts. Any corrosion acts like a big resistor, and prevents the voltage from getting through the jumper cables to the dead battery. Scrape off the corrosion with a fingernail file if you have to, but you want nice shiny posts when you're done.
  
  
• If the cables are real warm and you're not having success, it's a sign that your jumper cables have a problem. If they warm up, it means there's too much resistance in the line. There should be very little cable resistance. If the jumper cables are frayed or rusty at the clamps they won't work.
  
  
• It could be your starter is bad and won't turn over. It could also be a short circuit in the output voltage regulator of your charging circuit, or your electronic ignition could be bad. When an electronic ignition dies, there is no warning it just shuts off, and can appear to be a dead battery. In either case, you'll probably need to get towed, because the engine will never start under these conditions with a failed electronic ignition. But if you know that you just left the headlights on and drained down your battery, then it's probably is just the battery.
  
  
• If all else fails, call a friend with jumper cables, a tow truck or AAA. If you have an extended warranty call the number in your policy booklet and take advantage of the roadside assistance included as part of your extended warranty benefits. Most people forget that their extended warranty has this benefit. Not all warranties have it, but many do.

Don't wait until it's too late to do something about your dying car battery!
We've all been in panic mode where the car does not crank over 100% so we try it once again and it finally cranks over amid a sigh of relief. That's the time to get your electrical system looked at as soon as possible, because that is God extending you grace and giving you a blessing, warning you of trouble ahead. It's like seeing lightening before the thunder arrives. Do not deny God of giving you his blessing. Use that valuable sliver of time to correct whatever is wrong.

Tips for maintaining your charging system and preventing problems
Your battery posts should be clean, and there should be no corrosion or grease around the posts, and the entire top of the car battery should be clean and dry, just like you see it in the auto parts store. Corrosion will rust the cable connectors that attach to the battery terminals, cutting off the supply of current from your battery to the car. For some people who are having trouble starting their car, just cleaning the battery terminals may be all they need to make their troubles go away.

Got battery post corrosion?
Use a battery post brush to clean the posts and make them shiny again for maximum performance. Also brush clean the battery cable clamps that attach onto the battery posts. Most people don't know that on older maintenance car batteries they must maintain the water level in their battery. In hot summer months, the water level can drop significantly, preventing the electrolytic plates from holding a charge. The problem is that when you first notice that your engine is having a hard time starting due to the battery, the damage has already been done. Adding water to the battery at this time may help for a short while, but your battery is most likely going to die soon.

Auto parts stores can quickly diagnose your dead car battery for free!
Many auto parts stores have a meter that they can attach to your battery and in 10 seconds they'll tell you if your charging system has any problems. So before you go to buy a new battery have them tell you if there really is a problem.

Tips for buying car batteries
Most car battery warranties are a joke, because you still have to shell out money for a new car battery when your old one dies. They claim 7 year warranties, but your battery may only last 2 or 3 years then you bring it in when it dies and they "prorate" you a discount off another battery. So if your 7 year battery dies at 36 months, they give you a 50% prorated discount off a new 7 year battery, you don't get a new battery for free. If you don't have your receipt for the battery you bought 3 years ago, you'll get nothing, so save receipts for your diehard batteries and alternators. You might ask, "who's going save their battery receipt?". Lots of people do. Keep it in the maintenance records notebook that you create when you buy a new car. Whenever you need the receipt you'll know where to find it. When I owned my Trans Am, I was either replacing the alternator or the battery every year, so I had to keep the receipts. Be kind to your environment and use proper battery disposal methods. Always bring the dead battery to turn in to the auto parts store. Some states may have a battery disposal fee that you pay when purchasing a new automotive battery. Sometimes when you buy an alternator at the auto parts stores, you have to trade in your old one, so they may charge you a deposit until you bring the old core in. Consult your auto maker to decide which battery you should get. I used to buy the highest rated (700 Cold Cranking Amps) battery I could find for effortless starting.

Get A good set of jumper cables to keep in your trunk at all times
Everyone should have a good set of jumper cables to keep in the trunk. If you don't know whether you have a set, you better find out right now. You don't want to be caught out in the middle of cow tipping country with a dead battery and no cables and no beer, because you forgot you lent your cables to someone and never got them back. Don't skimp on your cables either. Just as a bad DJ can ruin a good wedding, cheap battery jumper cables can and do work against people all the time. I don't recommend getting any cables under $20 no matter how tempting it might be to save a few bucks. The cheap ones just don't have what it takes. I just go to Sears Automotive and buy the biggest meanest kick ass set of cables I can find there. You want the thickest cables you can get, as their ability to deliver more current to the dead battery often means the difference between starting and not starting your dead car. It can mean the difference  between making the football game on time, or making to your concert on time. Several times in the past I've watched people try with no success to jump start a car, then I connect my cables and the car started right up. I've gotten a lot of high fives over the years for jump starting cars when people were ready to call a tow truck. If your car does not have a voltmeter built into the in dash gauges, I highly suggest you get a cheap $10 home depot special for your trunk with the battery cables. The voltmeter is a very valuable tool to have when you're troubleshooting a car that won't jump-start. Usually it's an issue of the voltage not getting from the good car through the cables and onto your dead battery. The culprit is usually just a bad connection, or jumper cables that are old and corroded, or just not thick enough to handle the cranking amps. The voltmeter will tell you instantly, and if it displays less than 12 volts across your dead battery terminals, you know it's simply not getting the voltage from the good battery. Radio shack makes a tiny $17 Auto-Ranging Tester that fits in your shirt pocket. If you know someone who just bought a car, buy them one as a gift.

Other useful tips for your car battery

• Extended Warranties and Roadside Assistance. Many warranties include roadside assistance as part of the benefits. These benefits may include towing, jump starts, travel reimbursement, and car rental reimbursement. This can be a lifesaver when you really need it most.
• Get an AC powered car battery charger at home. This is a career saver in the morning if your spouse has already left with the other car, and you just found out your battery has not yet had its morning coffee. This can be a life saver when you have a meeting in 45 minutes, and your battery is dead. A few times I left my trunk open overnight, and there was not enough juice to start the car in the morning. But one minute on the A/C charger, and it starts right up. These chargers cost about $30 at Costco or Sam's and they are worth every penny! Powered by your household electrical wall outlet, they provide a 50 amp engine start mode, enough to start most dead car batteries that were drained overnight from leaving the headlights or dome lights on. You may have to use the 10 amp fast charge mode instead to charge the battery for 15 minutes, then try the 50 amp engine start mode. This useful device has saved me several times.

So there you have it, everything you need to know for a best odds shot at jump starting a dead car, and some good preventative maintenance tips as well.