How to jump-start a car safely
Super Tire & Muffler · Updated June 20, 2026
A dead battery is one of the most common no-starts. With jumper cables and a running vehicle, you can usually get going in a few minutes, as long as you connect the cables in the right order.
- 1
Park and turn both cars off
Position the good car close enough for the cables to reach, put both in park, set the brakes, and turn both ignitions off.
- 2
Connect red to the dead battery
Clamp one red (positive) clip to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.
- 3
Connect red to the good battery
Clamp the other red clip to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.
- 4
Connect black to the good battery
Clamp one black (negative) clip to the negative (–) terminal of the good battery.
- 5
Ground the last clip on the dead car
Clamp the last black clip to a bare, unpainted metal bolt or bracket on the dead car's engine, not the dead battery. This reduces spark near the battery.
- 6
Start the good car, then the dead one
Start the good vehicle and let it run a minute or two, then try starting the dead vehicle.
- 7
Remove cables in reverse order
Once it starts, remove the clips in the exact reverse order, then drive the revived car for at least 15–20 minutes to recharge.
Rather we handle it? If your battery keeps dying, the real problem is usually the battery itself or the charging system. We will test the battery, starter, and alternator and tell you which it is.