ATVs / Offroading

  1. Home
  2. Autos
  3. ATVs / Offroading
How to Jump Start a Vehicle with a Dead Battery?

A dead battery can be a bummer. It can also be a dangerous job jump starting it. Some do it differently. This is how I do it.

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: 15 minutes


Here's How:
  1. Make sure both batteries are the same voltage. Bring the running vehicle up to the front of the dead vehicle. They must not tough.
  2. Make sure all emergency brakes are applied and all vehicles are in either park or neutral.
  3. Cover the cell caps with a rag. Do not cover the terminals.
  4. Put on some safety glasses.
  5. Get your jumper cables. Make sure they are good ones with no frays anywhere.
  6. Connect one red handle clamp of one end of the jumper cables to the positive side of the dead battery.
  7. Connect the black handle clamp of the same end of the jumper cables to a good ground besides the negative side of the good battery. An alternator bracket usually works well.
  8. Take the red handle clamp on the other end of the jumper cables and connect it to the positive side of the good battery.
  9. Connect the remaining black handle clamp to the negative side of the good battery.
  10. Start engine of starting vehicle.
  11. Start dead vehicle.
  12. If it does start right away rev up the running vehicle a little and just let it run for about ten minutes charging up the dead battery a little. Then try again.
  13. If this doesn't work charge the dead battery with a battery charger. You should do this slowly over night.
  14. If this doesn't work the dead battery probably needs to be replaced.
Tips:
  1. Be careful not to cause a spark. This could make a battery blow up.

Explore ATVs / Offroading

About.com Special Features

How to Inspect a Used Car

Stay safe and save time by following these tips before driving a used car. More >

Best Cars 2009

Top picks for new and redesigned cars in 2009. More >

ATVs / Offroading

  1. Home
  2. Autos
  3. ATVs / Offroading

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.