How To Jump Start Your Car If The Battery Is Flat

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Secure the vehicle

Carry out the jump-start away from traffic if you can and park


on a level surface if possible. Apply the parking brake and shift into first gear.


In automatic cars move the gear stick to the parking position.


SAFETY WARNING ! Do not smoke whilst carrying out these steps.

Step 3: Open the bonnet

Release the bonnet using the lever in the car's interior and


move the bonnet-catch for final release.


Lift the bonnet and locate the prop rod.


Now, secure the bonnet with the rod.

Step 4: Locate the battery

In most cars, it is usually under the bonnet. In others, the battery is under the seat or in a compartment in the back of the car.


Make sure to have easy access to your battery and its terminals.


On most batteries you have to remove the terminal covers in order to attach the jump leads..


Consult your manual If in doubt about your battery's location.


Also determine your battery's voltage.





With the exception of some new models, most cars allow for jump-starts.

Step 5: Check the state of your battery

you may have just left the lights on; in this case your battery should be back on if you follow all the steps.
There may be, however, more serious reasons for a discharged battery that cannot be solved with a jump-start.

Excessive amounts of solidified, corroded battery acid may be an indicator of severe damage. SAFETY WARNING ! Stop if your battery is cracked, corroded or leaking. A jump-start will not work in this case and there is a danger of explosion


SAFETY WARNING ! Stop if your battery is cracked, corroded or leaking. A jump-start will not work in this case and there is a danger of explosion.

Step 6: Line up both vehicles safely

The batteries should be as close to each other as possible.


However, have a safety gap between the cars as vehicles should never be touching.


Secure the second vehicle.


Turn the ignition off.


Apply the parking brake.


Shift into first gear.


If the vehicle is automatic place the gear stick in the P position.

Step 7: Turn off all electrical devices.

Turn off the lights, indicators and finally the radio.


Accidentally left on devices may get damaged by the high and sudden voltage.

Step 8: Open and secure bonnet

Open and secure the bonnet of the vehicle that is providing the jump start. Do this as made clear in step 2

Step 9: Identify the terminals on the fully charged battery.

Usually the positive terminal (plus) has a red cable, the negative (minus) a black one.

Step 10: Identify the terminals on the flat battery.

The negative terminal has a plain black cable, the positive terminal has a red cable

Step 11: Clean all the terminals

Clean all terminals with wire brush

Step 12: Connect the flat battery

Attach a red clip to the positive terminal of the flat battery.

Step 13: Connect the charged battery

Connect the red clip to the positive terminal of the charged battery.

Step 14: Connect the negative on the fully charged battery

Attach the black clip to the negative terminal on the battery that is fully charged.

Step 15: Connect the earth

To earth the flat battery attach the black clip to any metal part on the actual engine itself.
Make sure the metal part is unpainted and free of grease to guarantee a proper flow of electricity.
Connect to a bolt or a nut, they are typically good contact points. This significantly reduces the danger of explosion from batteries.

Step 16: Start car with fully charged battery

Get ready to start the car with the fully charged battery.

Turn on the ignition,