Dead Battery? No Crank? Best Way to Jumpstart Your Car: How to Do It, and Why!

Ever had a dead battery in your car or truck? Do you know the best way to jumpstart? In this video, Len shows you his preferred method for jumpstarting a car or truck with a dead battery, but he doesn't stop there! He also shows you how it works! He also shows you some easy ways to check out the health of your battery while you're at it, to see if the dead battery was a simple mistake, or a sign of a deeper problem!

For more on testing battery health, watch this:

For more great introductory car knowledge videos, check this playlist:

⚠ DISCLAIMER:
While 1A Auto strives to make the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All do-it-yourself projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. 1A Auto is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.

[AAuto]

√ *Watch the Video*
√ *Do it Yourself*
√ *Save Money*

[kevindunlap]

"Hang on, I gotta run home and get my multimeter..." 🤷‍♂️🤣

[sandracruz]

I’ve got to jump start my vehicle tomorrow without anyone’s help. Felt a bit insecure after watching other videos but not after yours. The explanations were clear and to the point. Great video!! 👏

[wiljowit]

Thanks for explaining thoroughly and not wasting my time. Well done.

[chitown]

You may wanna add that some cars have a "jump post" for jumping a dead battery. My older model Mercedes Benz battery is covered in 20 minutes of plastic removal to get to the battery. There is a separate battery jumping post location so you don't have to bother removing all the fragile plastic. In other words, tell them to always refer to their owners manual when possible.

[kensharpe]

Great job off explaining the process in a step by step process & then explaining why you do so. Thank you

[kras]

Very well done/ informative video about "all" questions one would have about jumping a car. This is a must see.

[samblack]

This was so helpful. Thank you so much! 👍

[heroknaderi]

Very cool detailed information ℹ appreciate it. I have a 2013 Toyota Avalon limited and the battery is completely dead. I will use your advice to start it up 😎😁

[rockymanify]

This was probably one of the best tutorials I've seen on this subject. Great job!

[ahotdj]

@3:20 I was always taught the the red cable goes to the + dead battery and then the + to the good battery. Then - to good battery and - to dead battery.

[VanessaCordero-czcv]

I like how you use the multimeter helping in identifying whether or not it's the alternator or the battery that is the issue...

[JosieFG]

This was a great video on the battery and how to charge it. My daughter and I learned a lot from it as we were trying to learn how to jump start her dead car battery you gave more above and beyond information than any other video we watched and it was easy to understand thank you very much I saved this

[TheCirrostratus]

Excellent video 1AAuto, show us "know your mechanic - Len" as Andy and Sue 👍✌

[keninglis]

Hi and thank you for providing an excellent video. One question I would ask is that you do not say if there is a need to top up your battery distilled water to the correct level to prevent the internal plates from buckling under stress?

[nofapSally]

This is very comprehensive and helpful for someone like myself how knows basically nothing. Unfortunately though, I have a larger 4wd with a flat battery and am trying to use a v6 sedan to jump it. Is that even doable?

[jaguarwealthymn]

I understand everything here. Thanks be golden when such videos are posted. Potentially somebody can answer a question here though I've got a bus here with two batteries and I went to jump start it with a Ford Econoline van. The red positive to the red positive from the dead to the live. Then the ground from the live to the frame and try the negative battery terminal using heavy duty battery cables top-of-the-line with a light indicator box. Red light says connect wrong greenlight says jump okay . I connect the hot terminals and as soon as I connect the negative terminal; the jumper cables tell me wrong connect and red light. My question is why what is causing it to say wrong connect?

[Matthawkins]

On my mums 95 Suzuki Swift HB 4cyl 5pd. I had a world pack battery installed in 2011 and lasted till 2021! She rarely drove it. Short drive to! I have the car now & have 6 yr warranty on BCAA battery!

[chastoncotton]

Liked the video, but by the state of that battery, I would recommend a new battery not a recharge especially with the extra draw on it.

[CrIMiNl]

Very good informative video, you missed 1 thing… how long should your (test) drive be?? 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽