A dead battery is not the end of the world. A quick jump start is all you need to get back on the road and on with your day. By connecting to another car engine with a set of jumper cables, you can power up your battery long enough to get it home or to a professional shop for replacement. Once you have all the supplies needed, the whole process should only take a few minutes.

Continue reading to learn the simplest way to jump start a car after the battery goes dead.

❶ Check to Make Sure it’s the Battery

⚙ Try to turn on the head lights.

⚙ Check if the lights in the dashboard turn on when the keys are in the ignition.

⚙ Try to start the car:

➛ If it cranks quickly, it’s not the battery.
➛ If it cranks slowly, it’s perhaps the battery.

❷ Locate the Battery

⚙ Most the time it is under the hood, however, it may be in the trunk. If you can’t find it, refer to the owner’s manual.

⚙ Identify the positive and negative terminals:

➛ (+) is usually red
➛ (-) is usually black

❸ Park the Cars Near Each Other So That the Jumper Cables Can Reach Both Batteries

⚙ Make sure the ignitions are off before the next step.

⚙Make sure the cars are not touching each other.

❹ Be Sure Both Cable and Terminals are Clear of Debris and Corrosion

⚙ Remove corrosion scrap with a wire brush.

❺ Connect the Jumper Cables in the Following Order:

⚙ Connect the (+) red clamp to the dead battery;
⚙ Connect the other (+) red clamp to the good battery;
⚙ Connect the (-) black clamp to the good battery;
⚙ Connect the (-) black clamp to metal on the dead car, it could be a bolt.

❻ Make Sure the Cables are Not Tangled in the Car

❼ Start the Helper Car

⚙ Gently apply and release pressure to the gas for at least 30 seconds.

❽ After a Minute, Try to Start the Dead Battery Car

⚙ If the car does not start, check the cable connections and let the cars charge for at least five minutes before trying to start the dead car again.

❾ If the Car Still Does Not Start, You May Need to Get a Tow

❿ If the Car Does Start, Remove the Cables in the Following Order:

⚙ Disconnect the (-) black clamp on the metal on the dead car
⚙ Disconnect the (-) black clamp to the good battery
⚙ Disconnect the other (+) red clamp to the good battery
⚙ Disconnect the (+) red clamp to the dead battery
⚙ Replace rubber battery covers if applicable

⓫ Run the Recently Dead Car for at Least 10 Minutes to Allow the Alternator to Charge the Battery

It is important to have an emergency roadside assistance kit in your vehicle at all times for situations like this. Having essential safety materials and supplies on hand when you are stranded on the side of the road will help you with your car troubles, and more importantly, protect you from harm or danger.

If your vehicle is broken down and requires a tow, be sure to contact an experienced and trusted Indianapolis towing company that provides 24 hour roadside assistance. They may be able to service your car and eliminate the need for a tow. If they cannot solve your car problem, they can tow it to your location of choice.

Emergency Roadside Assistance and Towing

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 anytime to request professional and dependable roadside assistance anywhere in Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. Request a free estimate, today.