Question about "jumping" a car?

Question

My Mustang convertible was in the garage all winter and won't start up today. It's the battery, right? Well, I've never jump started a car, just watched a zillion times. Do you hook up the opposite colors? This is important so don't tell me something unless you're sure so I don't kill or maim myself. AND EXPLAIN IN SIMPLEST TERMS! Or should i just call a service since I have insurance that covers it?

Answer 1

Connect the "red" to the positive +

Connect the "black" to the negative -

Do that on BOTH cars.

It's best to have some eye protection as batteries give off hydrogen and can explode when sparks are nearby.

The car with the good battery should be running when you do this and be careful that you don't get too close to the moving fan.

Each time you connect the alligator clips sort of move them around so you are sure they connect good. A lot of current (not voltage) goes through them so a good connection is important.

Answer 2

All of the answers will work. It is best to get a battery charger and let the charger run for 12 hrs or so. Even if you jump it, unles you drive it around for an hour, the battery will not be fully charged.

The correct methed to jumping is good car running and accessories turned on, Red to positive on the good car, then red to positive on the dead car. Then black to negative or ground on the good car and black to a good Ground on the dead car. This will prevent sparking on the top of the battery, which in rare cause could cause the hydrogen coming out of the battery to ignite and explode. Most modern cars will have a neg or pos terminal located away from the battery for jumping purposes. Then start the dead battery, but you may have to wait a few minutes so that the dead battery can charge a little. You will know if you have a good connection if the running car's engine bogs down a little bit when you connect the last cable.

It is possible that the battery is bad, but if it showed some charge left, clicking sound when you tried to start it, even the dome light coming on, the battery will probably be OK. When long term storing a battery (Car, boat, motorcycle, etc.) it is best to put a charger on the battery every month or so, especially if it is in a freezing environment, as this will keep the battery from freezing and cracking open.

P.S. Yes, since it sat for an extended period of time, you should check for tightness of the battery cables and if they are clean, not green on the surfaces where the cables contact the battery.

Answer 3

It could be something as simple as the battery was disconnected when the car was parked. Have you checked to see if both of the cables are on the battery?

If your insurance covers it, and you've got the time to wait for them, I'd just call someone to come take care of it. You can do damage to the car and yourself by hooking it up wrong.

If you want to try it, pull the cars close together (but not touching each other) so that the cables will easily reach from one battery to another. Leave the good car running, and examine both batteries to see which terminal is positive and which is negative. They will be marked with a + and - sign on the case. Connect the positive (+) terminals on both cars with one cable.

Connect one end of the other cable to the negative terminal on the running car, and the other end to something solid and metal on the mustang. It should be something other than the battery, and it must be out of the way of the fan, belts, etc. Make sure it's not attached to a fuel line, and don't let it touch the other jumper cable's clamps and make sparks. You should hear the running car's engine noise change just a bit as it starts putting out more power to charge the battery.

Let the cars sit and run for about 5 minutes, and then try starting the mustang. When it starts, disconnect the cables without letting the clamps touch each other while they're connected to either car, and let the mustang run for 20-30 minutes. Better yet, drive it around for a few miles.

Answer 4

jumper cables have two colors at each end the red clamps go on the positive + side of both batteries the blacks go on the negitive - side of the circuit. First connect one of the red clamps to the red positive side of the dead battery then connect the other red to the good battery followed by the black to negitive (don't get your face over ethier battery when connecting) finaly connect the black lead to a good ground on the dead batteries car frame.
Attach to some thick steel or bolt making sure all leads are clear of the engines rotating parts. you place the last lead to the frame instead of the battery incase your battery has a direct short it won't spark over the battery. Direct Current runs from your negitive side of the battery to the positive because electrons are negitivly charged particals. When the car starts remove the leads in the reverse order. Hope this helps?

Answer 5

Line both cars up so the batteries are as close as can be. Make sure the cars are in park, and both cars are turned off, and not touching each other before you connect the cables. Actually one of them is already off, or you wouldn't be in this predicament right? Make sure all headlights, blinkers, car radios and A/C's are off, radar detectors are unplugged, cell phones unplugged, everything off. Unplug all accessories from cigarette lighters and other power sockets from both cars. Jump starting a battery can crank 300+ volts through your system and the transients can destroy equipment. These voltage spikes are caused by inrush current, into the inductances in your electrical system.


Familiarize yourself with the Positive (+) and Negative (-) terminals of both car batteries so you know exactly which one is which. All batteries are clearly marked so if you can't find it, it's probably under 1/8" of caked on corrosion around the terminals. Wipe off any battery acid that may have leaked.


If the battery is cracked and liquid is leaking out, DO NOT go further! Bite the bullet and go buy another battery and swap it out. If you try to jump start a battery with a crack in it, it will explode, and battery acid will dissolve your eyes (on the positive side though, it does get the red out). It makes no sense to jump a cracked battery, it will die in a few minutes.


Try to clean off any corrosion around the dead battery terminals, and if you have tools, loosen the wires from the terminals, clean them off, then retighten the wires to the shiny posts. Corroded posts prevent the power from getting through the cables and into your battery to revive it. If you have a file handy, try to file the metal battery posts until they are nice and shiny. In a pinch use pliers to clamp down and scrape off corrosion too as the metal is somewhat soft.


Usually the positive battery cable is red or orange, and usually the Negative (-) or ground cable is black, but always check for yourself to be sure.

Answer 6

NO!!!!!!!!!!!! don't hook up the opposite colors!!!!
first hook the 1 of the red cables to red thing on your battery then do the same with the black

do the same to a car that runs then as you rev your engine have someone start the car that runs

Answer 7

positve to positive, negative to negative, usually positive has a + sign and a red wire and negative has a - sign and a black wire, with the cables most people use red as positve and black as negative.
Hook up cables to running vehicle first then hook up positve to dead battery positve terminal, then hook up negative to either dead battery negative terminal OR and grounded bare metal under hood.
Let them sit for a minute like that and try it. If you have made a good connection you will hear the engine of the vehicle that is running slow down a little.
Good luck..

Answer 8

NO!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
DO NOT JUMP IT!!!!
remove the battery re-charge it and re-install it.
if You just jump it, You will BURN the voltage regulator and the alternator.because that battery will be down,
You jump it and will get enough charge for starting,

and the next thing will be the starter will drain it,

and because the battery is "COLD" (inside) will go all the way down again,leaving the alternator running with the whole task ,

and because is "COLD" all metallic wire will cut in short.

the mechanic.

Answer 9

ok first off put neg (-) on first and then put the pos(-) on next on one battery...(DO NOT TOUCH THE OPPOSITE SIDE CONNECTERS TOGETHER)then put the other sides on the same way and try and start your mustang. when you take them off take the pos(+) side off first and then follow with the neg(-) but remember do not touch them together. be safe and good luck......ps.with a car that has been sitting you might be better off just buying a new battery

Answer 10

As long as you connect the same color to the same terminal on both batteries ie,Red would go to positive on one battery and positive on the other,Same with the black,black to negative on one battery and black to negative on the other battery.If in doubt princess,call a professional to do it for you.