Jumpstarting a car is a skill every driver should know. Done correctly, it takes about 5 minutes and gets you back on the road. Done wrong, it can damage your car's electronics or cause injury.
Here's the correct way to do it.
What You Need
- A set of jumper cables (at least 3 metres long, with thick gauge wire)
- A second car with a working battery
- 2 minutes of your time
Step-by-Step: Connecting the Cables
Park the working car close to the dead car — close enough for cables to reach both batteries, but not touching. Turn off both cars.
Connect the cables in this exact order:
- Red (+) to dead battery positive terminal — the terminal marked "+" or in red
- Red (+) to good battery positive terminal
- Black (−) to good battery negative terminal
- Black (−) to unpainted metal on the dead car — a bolt on the engine block works well. Do NOT connect to the dead battery's negative terminal.
Starting the Cars
- Start the working car. Let it run for 2 minutes at 1,500–2,000 RPM (slightly press the accelerator)
- Try starting the dead car. If it starts, great. If not, wait another 2 minutes and try again.
- If it still won't start after 3 attempts, the battery may be too far gone for a jumpstart. You need a replacement.
Disconnecting the Cables
Once the dead car is running, remove cables in reverse order:
- Black from engine block
- Black from good battery negative
- Red from good battery positive
- Red from previously dead battery positive
After the Jumpstart
Drive continuously for at least 30 minutes to allow the alternator to recharge the battery. Avoid turning the car off and on during this period.
If the battery dies again within a day or two, it's no longer holding charge and needs replacing.
When a Jumpstart Won't Work
Jumpstarting won't help if the battery is completely dead (no voltage at all), physically damaged, or more than 4–5 years old. In these cases, you need a new battery. Carput delivers to your location in Klang Valley within 30 minutes.