How to jump start your car battery the right way.

Highway Auto Batteries offer you this information in the interest of your safety and some guidance in making the right decisions about your vehicle's electrical and electronic systems - Updated 20/10/2019.


car battery jump start connections

How to Jump-Start a Car Battery the Right Way.

It has probably happened to you before. You go to turn on your ignition, and nothing happens. Maybe you hear a few clicks. Another dead car battery? You need to fix this and get your vehicle back on the road - fast. If you are prepared, you already have a good set of jumper cables in your car. Now all you need to do is to learn how to jump start a car battery the right way.

Safety Precautions.

You should consider all safety risks before performing any basic maintenance or repair on your car. First, make sure that small children are in a safe area away from the engine while you are establishing how to jump a dead car battery. Take a moment to read the manual of your car. Some vehicles require extra steps in order to have a successful jump. If you’re unsure of what to do, contact Highway Auto Rockhampton for advice. Assuming that your car will permit a jump start, you should be careful to prevent dangerous electric shocks.

Identify the battery connections.

First, you need a fully charged battery, this can be a standalone battery or the battery in another vehicle. Next identify the terminals on the dead battery and the donor battery. Red is positive also marked with a (+ ) sign, Black is negative marked with a minus sign (-). This distinction is crucial to the success of your jump connection. If the battery terminals are dirty, wipe them off with a rag or wire brush.
car battery jump start cable connections

Now prepare for the jump.

1. Park the donor car so that the vehicles face each other, preferably only about 30cm apart, but never touching each other. For automatic transmission cars, put the vehicle in park; for a manual transmission, set the vehicle to neutral with park brakes on.

2. Set the parking brakes on both, so neither car moves unexpectedly.

3. Both cars should be turned off, with keys removed.

4. Set down the jumper cables on the ground, making sure the clamps do not touch each other.

Now, begin attaching the jumper cables:

1. Attach the red, positive cable clamp to the positive (+) battery terminal of the dead battery. You want a secure connection to the battery terminal, which may require some initial wiggling of the clamps.

2. Attach the red, positive cable clamp on the other end of the jumper cables to the donor vehicle’s positive (+) battery terminal.

3. Connect the black, negative cable clamp to the donor battery’s negative (-) battery terminal. Walk over to the car with the dead battery. Do not connect the black, negative cable clamp to the dead battery terminal. Instead, attach that clamp to an unpainted, metal part of the car such as a shiny, clean nut on the engine block. This will help ensure a safe jump connection and isolate any sparking that may occur away from a battery.

Know How Long to Charge the Dead Car Battery.

Now you’re ready to attempt the jump-start. Follow the instructions below to find out how and how long to charge your car’s dead battery:

1. Start the donor vehicle

2. Wait a minute or so. Depending on the age of the dead battery and how long since it died, you may need to let the donor car run for 5 minutes or more to get the boost to work by transfering enough energy from the donor battery.

3. Try starting the dead car. If the car doesn't start, allow the working vehicle to charge the battery for an additional 5 minute or more before attempting again. In some instances, slightly revving the engine of the working car while charging the dead battery may help.

4. Once the dead car is running, you may disconnect the jumper cables, starting with the black, negative cable clamps. Do not let the clamps touch each other while any part of the cables is still attached to a car.

5. Now, drive the vehicle. This will allow the battery to build up a charge. This driving allows the vehicle’s alternator to charge the battery and ensures that your vehicle does not die again once you turn it off. Note: Simply driving a vehicle with a discharged battery will not restore full charge. In every case the battery must be recharged with a battery charger.

6. Have your car's battery and charging circuit checked by professionals to determine why your battery died or these events may repeat.

What if the Jump-start Fails?

If the jump fails to start your car after a few short attempts, or if the car starts but then dies again, you have some other issues you need to address. Most batteries are rated to last 2-3 years. If your battery is old, you may need to replace it. If the battery should be working well, you should consider other possible problems with other components, including:

  • Fuses

  • Battery corrosion

  • Faulty alternator

  • Ignition switch

  • Starter motor

If the problem remains unresolved, contact Highway Auto Batteries for free advice. (07) 4926 1303.

The Three Great Battery Mistakes.

  • 1-Replace a perfectly good battery.

  • 2-Tolerate a defective battery.

  • 3-Install a cheap problem prone battery.

Examples of vehicles we service
● Audi
● Daewoo
● Daihatsu
● Datsun
● Fiat
● Ford
● Holden
● Honda
● Hyundai
● Isuzu Ute
● Jeep
● Kia
● Land Rover
● Lexus
● Mazda
● Mini
● Mitsubishi
● Nissan
● Subaru
● Suzuki
● Toyota
● Volkswagen
● Volvo
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