Video: How to Jump Start Your Car

If you do find yourself turning the key to no avail, here's a quick rundown on how to jumpstart your car. [Matt Schmitz] Park the assisting car nose to nose with yours, about 18 inches apart. Make sure that both vehicles are in park and that their emergency brakes are on and engines off. Clamp the red end of the jumper cable to the dead batteries' positive terminal, and the other end of the red cable to the functioning car's positive terminal. Attach the end of the black cable to the working battery's negative terminal and the other end to a metal section, such as a bracket or bolt, a foot or more away from the battery to ground it in the dead car. Start the working car and let it run one to two minutes, revving the engine slightly. Now give your car a try. It may take a couple of attempts, but don't try to start it more than three or four times in a row, as this could damage your car's electrical system. Once the dead car is running, disconnect the cables in the reverse order you connected them. Don't let the clamps touch. Now drive your car to let your battery charge to full capacity so it'll start again next time. A short drive might not be enough, so you might want to leave the car parked and idling a while with the lights off. If your car refuses to start after a few jump attempts, it may be due to battery corrosion, or a problem with your fuses, alternator, ignition switch, or starter connection. Or the battery might be too dead to take a charge and will need to be replaced. (high intensity techno music)