How To Jump Start A Car Using Jumper Cables Safely

Introduction

I grew up with a dad who made sure that when he taught me to drive, the lessons included things like oil and filter changes, tire patching and changing and, of course, how to jump-start a dead battery. "You'll need every single one of these skills at some point in your driving career, Robert," he often said.

Nearly two decades later, I can confirm he was right. I hadn't been driving on my own for long when I had my first dead battery experience. I was parked in my dad's 1990 Ford F150 and was approached by a worried-looking man. He sheepishly asked if I could give his dead SUV battery a boost. I was a little nervous, since I had never boosted a vehicle without dad looking over my shoulder. Thankfully, I remembered how to do everything safely, and five minutes later the man pulled away and with a look of gratitude.

Before we get to the how-to steps, it's worth noting that as useful as jumper cables are, they're not the only way to boost a dead car battery. In fact, they're not even the best way. Portable battery boosters do the same job as cables, but more conveniently because they don't require another vehicle. That's why I carry both jumper cables and a fully charged battery booster in my vehicle at all times.

When To Call a Pro

Call in a professional if you're trying to boost a dead vehicle battery and nothing happens. But first, double check you've done everything right and that the connections of the cables to the battery terminals are solid. If everything checks out and the dead vehicle still isn't turning over, you'll need some outside help.

Another reason to call a pro is if the vehicle being boosted has a battery that's hard to access. I've seen some modern vehicles with the air filter housing installed right above the battery, making it nearly impossible to reach or even see one or both terminals. In this situation parts would need to be removed to get at the battery, and that's best left to a pro.

Time: 5-15 minutes

Cost: $20 (if you don't already own jumper cables)

Complexity: Simple

Watch How To Jump-Start a Car Using Jumper Cables Safely

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