How to Jump-Start a Car Safely

A dead battery is one of the most common reasons we get called out across Nassau County, and it's also one of the easiest problems to fix yourself with jumper cables and another vehicle nearby.

1. Position the vehicles

   Park the working vehicle close enough for the cables to reach, nose-to-nose or side-by-side, without the vehicles touching.

2. Connect the cables in order

   Red clamp to the dead battery's positive terminal, red clamp to the good battery's positive terminal, black clamp to the good battery's negative terminal, and the last black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the dead car's engine block -- not the battery itself.

3. Start the working vehicle

   Let it run for a couple of minutes before attempting to start the dead vehicle.

4. Start the dead vehicle

   If it doesn't start after a few tries, stop -- a battery that won't take a charge likely needs replacement, not more cranking.

5. Remove the cables in reverse order

   Negative from the formerly-dead car, negative from the good car, positive from the good car, positive from the formerly-dead car.

6. Keep driving afterward

   Drive for at least 15-20 minutes to let the alternator recharge the battery.