Whenever a person drives or cares for a vehicle, one of the most important things to learn is how to jump start the battery in case of emergency. A dead battery can be caused from a door being left slightly ajar, headlights being left on, or the radio being played after the vehicle engine is turned off. Because so many common mistakes can cause a battery to die, it is important to know the quick process of jump starting your vehicle utilizing jumper cables.
When you first decide you may need a jump, make sure that the battery is actually the culprit. You can check your vehicle's headlights, or radio to ensure that they are not coming on which is the first sign of a dead battery. You can use a battery analyzer or charger from Schumacher, SPX, OTC or Associated Parts to help verify that the battery is in fact dead. If you try to turn your vehicle over and have a very brief cranking noise or no noise at all, then you are most likely dealing with no batter power.
After using a battery charger like the AOE6002B or INC406A to determine that the battery is in fact the issue, have a working vehicle park with the hood near the hood of the disabled vehicle. You will then want to turn off the working vehicle and connect the positive terminals followed by the negative terminals on both batteries. After connecting the jumper cables turn the working vehicle on and allow the vehicle to idle for a minute or two and then attempt to start the vehicle.
After the charging is complete, the disabled vehicle should start up like always and it is a good idea to allow it to idle for a few minutes before you turn the engine off again. Associated jumper cables like the AOE6156 work the best in everyday situations involving a dead battery and are something that all drivers should carry in their vehicles. As always, you can reference your factory service manuals, Chilton, Haynes, or eAutoRepair subscription for help finding the correct parts and repair procedures.
