How to Jump Start a Car Battery

How to Jump Start a Car Battery

Stranded with a dead battery? Don’t panic—our step-by-step guide will get you moving again safely and quickly.

Dead Battery? No Problem.

Don’t let a dead car battery ruin your day. Learn the fast, safe way to jump-start your vehicle and get back on the road in minutes. Watch the quick video below to see the full process in action.

What You’ll Need

  • Jumper cables (or a jump starter pack)
  • Another vehicle with a working battery (if using cables)
  • Gloves and safety glasses (recommended)

Safety Tips

  • Never let clamps touch once connected.
  • Don’t lean over the battery while jump-starting.
  • If the battery is cracked, leaking, or smells like rotten eggs, do not attempt a jump. It's time to replace it.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Park Safely: Position the working vehicle so the batteries can be connected—but don’t let the vehicles touch.
  2. Turn Everything Off: Both vehicles should be off—ignitions, headlights, radios, and accessories.
  3. Attach Jumper Cables:
    • Red clamp to dead battery's positive (+)
    • Red clamp to good battery's positive (+)
    • Black clamp to good battery's negative (–)
    • Black clamp to unpainted metal on dead vehicle (not battery)
    Attach jumper cables
  4. Start the Engine: Start the vehicle with the good battery and let it run for a few minutes. Start the engine
  5. Try Starting the Dead Car: Wait a bit if it doesn’t start. If it still won’t start, the battery may be fully discharged or damaged.
  6. Remove Cables in Reverse Order:
    • Black from dead car’s ground
    • Black from good battery
    • Red from good battery
    • Red from dead battery
    Remove jumper cables
  7. Let It Run: Once the car is jump started it the battery needs to be brought to a full charge using an external charger. Simply driving your vehicle or letting it idle will not birng the battery back to a full charge and risk the battery dying again.

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About Clarios

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Clarios creates the most advanced battery technologies for virtually every type of vehicle. We are a global leader in energy storage solutions, powering one in three of the world’s vehicles. We partner with our customers to develop smarter solutions that make people’s lives better.