How To Jumpstart A Car

How to Jump Start a Car

Items needed:

• Jumper cables – These need to be in good repair. For safety reasons do not use jumper cables that have wire showing.
• A car with the same voltage battery that is running to give the jump start.
• A wire brush if possible, in a pinch a Pepsi will work.

1. Locate jumper cables. If you do not have a set, you will have to find someone to jump start your car who does have a set.
2. Hook jumper cables to receiving battery. Hook the positive cable (normally red) to the positive post on the battery. The battery will be marked so make sure that you are hooking to the positive post. Hook the negative cable (normally black) to the negative post on the battery. If the posts are corroded, brush them off with the wire brush. If a wire brush is not available, the acid and carbonation of a Pepsi will remove the corrosion. Let terminals dry before jumping the car battery.
3. Hook jumper cables to donor car battery. Hook the positive cable to the positive post on the battery. Hook the negative cable to a bolt or a nut on the body of the car to provide a ground for the electrical current. Do not lean over the battery when doing this as the battery has the potential to explode. Keep as clear of the battery as possible when jump starting any car.
4. Allow battery to charge dead battery for at least 5 minutes before trying to start the dead battery. 
5. As soon as the dead battery starts, disconnect the jumper cables, being careful to not let the cable touch each other. An easy way to do this is to hold the negative clamp in your hand and hook the positive one to the rubber part of the negative side. Repeat for other end of cables.

Reference:

Jump Start procedure