There are a few different ways to jump-start your car battery. One, of course, is the conventional jumper cables with red and black color connectors. Be certain your battery posts and cables are free of corrosion. If you use this method, in order to be safe and limit sparking (batteries release hydrogen gas, which could explode), you should connect the red connector first. Red goes to the positive (+) pole on both batteries. Be sure the black connectors aren’t touching any part of the cars. After the red is connected, connect the black to the negative (-) side of the battery on the dead battery first, then the other end of black to the good battery. It should be noted that jumper cables with thicker wires are better because this is a high amperage draw, and the thicker cables stay cooler.
The car with the working battery should then be started, and the engine revved a little before you attempt to start the other car. In a minute or so, try and start the other car. You want it to start fairly easy, so if it is slow in turning the starter, wait a while longer. Your battery should then start your car. When your car is running, disconnect the black cable first and then the red one. Make sure they do not touch while you disconnect from the other vehicle.
Don’t just get in and drive. Check your alternator light. If it is on, you are running only on your battery and you won’t get very far; particularly at night when you have to have lights on. Have the good car follow you to the nearest parts store, preferably a chain automotive store. There, they will check your battery and alternator for free.
If your alternator light doesn’t come on, check all your internal lighting to be sure they all go out when the door is shut. I have had a map light on the rear-view mirror totally ruin a battery because I didn’t know it was on. If any of your lights stay on, needless to say, turn them off by switch; close the door and be sure they go off. They may be on a timer, so be patient. If your battery goes dead soon after the jump; say, the next morning; you could have a “dead cell” which would require battery replacement. You can take your old battery to the parts store and have it checked to see if it is defective, if you like. A dead cell battery may not even jump start, so replacement may be mandatory.
Back to charging. Cables are made that go from cigarette lighter on the good car to cigarette lighter on the car with the bad battery. I understand they work, but if you have a really dead battery that needs a lot of charging, the wire used between vehicles is fairly thin, and a lot of amps could be drawn, melting the wire. Be sure the wire is not getting too hot, but be careful not to burn yourself with the wire.
The final way that I know to charge is with battery chargers that store energy and fit in your glove box for emergency. They also plug into your lighter. I do not know how reliable these products are. It would be best to ask a mechanic or sales person at a parts store which unit they recommend. I know Black and Decker makes one, and their products are usually okay; but, still check with someone with more knowledge about the units.
