If you leave your car on without having the engine running, it could cause your car battery to die. Allowing your vehicle to idle will drain the charge in the battery. If your car does die, you will need to jump-start it, and perhaps replace the battery once you get to a mechanic. This is not very difficult, but you should keep some things in mind with these steps for jump starting a car.
Steps For Jump Starting A Car
1. The number one rule when jump starting a car is to only attempt to do so with vehicles that are similar to your own. Trucks, motorcycles, cars, etc all have different voltage systems, so it could be dangerous to jump them with a different type of vehicle.
2. Furthermore you need to make sure that the red and black jumping clips do not touch. Wear glasses or a face shield to protect yourself from any sparks or gases.
3. When jumping another car you need to pull up so the hoods are facing each other and are as close as possible. This will ensure that the jumper cables will reach and be safe to use. If you cannot position the cars properly you may need to call 911 or a towing truck for help.
4. The dead car should be off and the other car running. Attach the black clip on the dead car to the negative battery post and the red clip to the positive post.
5. Connect the cables to the running car by first attaching the red clip to the positive post.
6. Connect the black clip to anything metal on the running car. Most importantly do not connect the last black clip to the battery because it will cause a spark.
7. Let the batteries charge for about 30 seconds before starting the dead car. You might need to gas it a little to load it.
8. Once the car starts up you can disconnect the cables, starting with the black clip from the source car and then the red.
9. Next disconnect the black and red from the formerly dead car. You should be able to use both cars properly now.
Call In A Mechanic
If you have more questions about jumping your car, let TalkLocal find a professional mechanic for you. We will connect you with up to three mechanics in your area who will be able to help you when you need them most.
