Guide to Jump-Starting Your Vehicle
Replacing or jump starting a car battery is a task most car owners must do at some point while owning the vehicle. While it may seem as an easy task, it can be one of the most dangerous. Thousands of motorists each year suffer serious eye injuries and other casualties as a result of working with car batteries. It is important to follow safety precautions to help reduce the risk of fires, explosions and personal injury when handling your car battery.
It is always good to be prepared for unexpected emergencies. Even newer and well‐maintained cars can have a dead battery. Be prepared with the car battery safety tips below from the experts at the Car Care Council. Please print this and keep in the glove compartment of your car. The step by step instructions to jumpstarting a vehicle can help should you ever have a dead car battery.
Safely Connect Jumper Cables
#1 Connect the positive (+) clamp to the positive terminal
of the healthy battery and the other positive clamp to the corresponding terminal
of the dead battery.
#2 Connect the negative (‐), or ground, terminal on the good battery and, finally, the negative clamp to the engine block, frame or other grounded metal as far as possible from the battery. Do NOT connect it to the ground terminal (negative) of the dead battery. When using a portable battery booster, the process is much the same. Connect the positive clamp of the booster cable to the positive clamp of the dead battery. Then connect the negative cable to the engine block or other grounded metal away from the battery.
Source: Car Care Council
Safely Jump‐Start the Vehicle.
#3 Once the jumper cables are connected properly, have everyone stand back from both vehicles.
#4 Start the vehicle with the good battery first. Then start the vehicle with the dead battery.
#5 Remove the jumper cables in reverse order. Begin with removing the cable from the grounded metal.
Important Info about Jumper Cables”
If you are buying new jumper cables, The Car Care Council recommends buying the best quality you can afford. Look for well‐insulated clamps and 8‐gauge wire. (Note: the lower the wire gauge number, the heavier the gauge.) Under the heavy electrical load of boost starting, lightweight cables may not be able to deliver enough current to start some engines. In fact, they have been known to melt in the user's hand.
These are just a few things you can do to help prevent injuries when working with car batteries. Please visit Montlick.com or HelpKeepKidsSafe.org and click on “Family Safety and Legal Tips,” to see our latest safety videos and downloadable materials, and to register for Free Safety Alerts.
This "Guide to Jump-Starting Your Vehicle" is presented by Atlanta/Georgia Auto Accident Attorneys, Montlick & Associates
Georgia Auto Accident Attorneys Montlick & Associates has handled tens of thousands of auto accident cases over the past 25 years. Unfortunately, many of the accidents could have been prevented by simple car care maintenance. Routinely inspecting your car's battery is one of them! Remember to check your battery for cracks, corrosion and loose wires every time you change your engine's oil. And don't forget to print our "Guide to Jump-Starting Your Vehicle" above to keep in your car for those unexpected emergencies. At Montlick & Associates, we're committed to keeping you and your family safe on the road!