10 Steps to Jump-Start Your Car Safely (Without Damaging Your Electronics)
Follow these ten steps to safely jump-start your car without risking damage to your electronics or battery.
10 Steps to Jump-Start Your Car Safely (Without Damaging Your Electron
Step 1: Check for Signs of a Frozen or Damaged Battery
Step 2: Park the Donor Vehicle Close but Not Touching
Step 3: Identify the Positive and Negative Terminals
Step 4: Connect the Red (Positive) Cable to the Dead Battery
Step 5: Connect the Other End of the Red Cable to the Donor Battery
Step 6: Connect the Black (Negative) Cable to the Donor Battery
Step 7: Connect the Other End of the Black Cable to a Ground Point on
Step 8: Start the Donor Vehicle and Let It Run
Step 9: Attempt to Start the Dead Vehicle
Step 10: Remove the Cables in the Reverse Order
The Bottom Line
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A dead battery is one of the most common roadside emergencies. It happens to nearly every driver eventually. Jump-starting a car seems simple—connect cables, start the engine, go on your way. But doing it incorrectly can damage your vehicle"s sensitive electronics, destroy your battery, cause an explosion, or even injure you. Modern cars are packed with computer modules that operate at precise voltages. A voltage spike from improper jump-starting can fry them. Here are ten steps to jump-start your car safely—without damaging your electronics.