Jumper cables connect your battery to another charged one.
Electric starters provide the initial spark that ignites gasoline inside an internal-combustion engine. To do this, they need power, which come from the car's battery. This battery, charged by the engine through the alternator, also powers all the car's electrical systems. When some of those systems---usually the headlights---are left on without the engine running, the result is a car with no power for the starter. A jump start uses electrical cables to link a charged battery from another car or a battery pack into the system to start the dead car. Setting one up is easy.
Instructions
Jump Starts With a Second Automobile
1. Find a working car to give you a boost. They will need to have a battery of the same voltage as yours; almost all cars have 12 volt batteries, but diesels and trucks sometimes use 24 volt systems. If you are in an isolated spot, call either a tow truck company or a taxi company; both will often be able to send someone out to give you a boost.
2. Move the working car so its engine is as close as possible to the engine of the dead car.
3. Shut off both cars and pop their hoods, use the hood prop rod to hold up the hood. Locate the batteries; they are large plastic boxes with metal knobs marked "positive" and "negative." If you are unsure as to the location of your battery, just check your vehicle's manual.
4. Clip one end of the positive jumper cable (which is usually red) to the positive terminal on the working car's battery, and the other end onto the positive terminal of the dead car's battery.
5. Clip the black (negative) jumper cable onto the negative terminal of the good car's battery, but don't connect the other end to the other battery. This risks causing an explosion from the spark that will fly when you make the connection. Instead, clip the other end of the black cable to any piece of exposed, unpainted metal in the engine compartment. Bolts work well. Since the existing battery is connected to the car's frame for grounding, this completes the circuit in the same way that clipping to the battery would, but doesn't risk sparks on the battery itself.
6. Start the engine of the car with the good battery and rev it up while in neutral gear. This will ensure that the battery is fully charged.
7. Shut off the good car, and try to start the car with the dead battery. This is somewhat safer for the electrical system of the good car, which may receive a surge from the other car starting. Ensure that all the electrical systems such as heat and lights are off, as they will divert power from the starter. If it doesn't work, start the engine on the good car and try again while one driver revs the good car up in neutral.
8. Check for any bad connections on the terminals if the car still doesn't start. Dirty terminals can interfere with the boost, so you may need to disconnect the jumper cables and wipe them with a cloth. If the car still doesn't start, there may be a problem with the starter, and a tow truck will probably be necessary.
Jump Start With a Battery Pack
9. Buy an emergency battery pack from any auto supply store. These packs contain a 12 or 24 volt battery, cables to connect the battery to the car's battery, and a plug to charge from a wall outlet. Before buying, check to determine whether your car uses a 12-volt or 24-volt system; 24-volt batteries are only common in larger trucks, buses, and diesel engines.
10. Bring the battery pack home and plug it into a wall outlet overnight. This will allow it to charge its battery. You can then store it in the trunk of the car for use in an emergency.
11. Clip the red (positive) cable and black (negative) cable from the battery pack to the dead car. As with a jump start from another car, the red cable goes directly onto the battery terminal while the black one connects to a point on the frame inside the engine compartment.
12. Turn on the battery pack and try to start the car. Check that connections are clean and electrical systems off; if it still doesn't work, call for a tow.
Tags: battery pack, battery This, electrical systems, still doesn, black negative, cables connect, Clip positive