Before you begin

When you're stranded in the cold rain and snow, asking passing motorists if they'll provide a jump start for your car, you'll find that there are two kinds of motorists: those who have jumper cables and those who do not.

If you get your own set of jumper cables, and keep them in the car, you'll increase your chances of getting a jump start by about a thousand percent (or at least it seems that way). Buy a good set of 100% copper heavy gauge (4 to 8 gauge) jumper cables that are at least 10 feet long. You'll make back your investment the first time that you're stuck with a dead battery.


Step 1: Make Sure The Battery is Not Damaged

Batteries have an electrolyte solution inside them. If that solution is frozen, don't try to jump-start the car. If your battery has removable vent caps, you can look inside to see if the liquid is frozen (replace the caps after looking). It's not easy to tell otherwise.

If there are cracks in the battery casing, don't try to jump-start it. Curse a few times, call a cab and go buy a new one.

If there is whitish (or greenish or yellowish) residue around the battery terminals, clean it off with a wire brush. Wear gloves, if possible, because that stuff can be nasty if it touches your skin. When this stuff forms, it's a sign that you may need a new battery.


Step 2: Attach the Cables

Make sure that the batteries in both cars are the same voltage. You won't find many six volt batteries around anymore, but there's always the chance. The voltage will generally be stated on top of the battery, or look in the owner's manual.

The cars should not be touching, and both ignitions should be off.

Each battery has two metal terminals on it. One is marked positive (+); the other is negative (-). Attach one end of one cable to the dead battery's positive terminal.

Attach the other end of the same cable to the positive terminal of the battery in the starting vehicle.

Attach one end of the other cable to the negative terminal of the battery in the starting vehicle.

Attach the other end of that cable to the engine block, or frame, of the car with the dead battery. Look for unpainted metal surfaces. Do not attach the negative cable to the dead battery itself, and do not attach it to the frame anywhere near the battery.


Step 3: Start the car

Stand back from the hood areas of the cars. Do not smoke while you're doing this. Safety goggles are a good idea.

Start the car that's providing the jump start.

Wait a moment, then try to start the car with the dead battery. If it does not start, stop trying and wait a few moments longer. Try again for no more than thirty seconds.

If the car has not started by now, chances are that it's not going to. If this is the worst thing that happens to you in life, consider yourself a very lucky person.


Step 4: Disconnect the cables

Remove the cable connections in the reverse order that you put them on. That means that the first disconnection is from the frame, and the last is from the positive terminal of the car that has just been started.

Thank the person who stopped in your hour of need. Some people are offended when a small payment is offered, while others may expect it and turn it down just the same. Use your own judgement, folks.

• A car with the same voltage battery as your own, fully charged
  
• A set of jumper cables
  
• A wire brush (optional)
  
• Gloves (optional)
  
• Safety glasses (recommended)