How to jump start a car - expert guidance from the RAC

One of our most experienced patrols talks you through the steps of jump starting a car.

[johnarrow]

NEVER NEVER connect both cables to the one car first. There is always the risk of shorting the free cable ends. Once the flat-red is connected, then connect the end of that cable to the charged car. Then do the same with the flat-negative, and so on.
Come on RAC!

[frankmurray]

Should have mentioned removal of cables.
Someone else mentioned connecting one cable at a time both ends. I agree.
I have heard that the good battery car should not be running when trying to start the bad battery car. This is due to sensitive modern computer circuitry that can be damaged. Both cars alternators fighting each other when both cars are running and cables connected can lead to problems.
Also a good idea to run the good battery car for some minutes once connected, to put some charge in the bad battery.

[giorgioexpress_]

Thank you for the very informative video!

[simmer]

very concise, just jumped a car as guided. Thanks.

[oliversjmildmay]

Interesting - Very Helpful - Thank You

[liam]

This video helped me a lot today. Because I try to jump start my sons car. And I was attaching the leads from my car battery positive to his cars battery to positive and negative to negative and the car will not start. Once I checked this video I found out that the negative has to attach to earth or just the metal of the engine the car started instantly. Thanx a million

[cruisertechgt]

Need some help understanding....So I know the reason they say to put the negative lead on a ground, its because the battery may be leaking gas and a spark could flame up cause injury. What I dont get though is that it would seem that this does not apply if you start with the bad battery like in this video...because you will close the electrical connection at your good car.

Therefore the order does not matter as long as you start with the bad car connections first?

[cDisturbed.]

I put negative to positive and blew my ecu cheers

[selinaoakley]

15 years!... U don't look old enough! 😅... Thank you for this 👍🏼

[nishiki]

Negative lead to a part of the car and not the negative terminal ?

[reverseside]

pretty good, but most other vids guide to connect positive cable to both cars, not, as in this video connect positive end then negative end... wouldn't this leave two loose ends to possibly touch and short-circuit? also, they guide to use bare metal for negative/ground. bit confused now.

[bp]

Attaching one of the the black negative grips to the car bonnet did not work for me. The car only started when the negative terminals were connected to each other. Some people here suggesting that the attachment point was not providing sufficient earth and a better location would make it start.

Once home, fully charge the battery via a mains charger. It will never fully recharge by driving the car.

[kazhilly]

Can you explain the reason why on the flat battery, you Don’t connect the black lead to the negative pole on the battery but somewhere else??

[SophiesWorld]

Have you ever heard of people "grounding the black cable"? Some places say to do that but it didn't work on neighbors car and had to do this way like you said. But why do lots of videos and websites say to do it?

[deanbullen]

What about disconnecting? Which order to? Engines running or not?

[chopper.mk]

Can you use speaker wire if you don't have jump leads?

[Willesden_Rab_TV]

🤔 shouldnt the donor car's ignition be switched on ALSO connect the cables to the car with flat battery first so not as to drain the donor battery

[darkartoflight]

I've had to wait 20 minutes charging the dead battery before it started - so don't give up straight away..

[savedfaves]

Would be helpful to tell people why you need to earth it with some suggestions. I believe the earth is supposed to be connected last. Would be great if you did so and explained why.

[joanallen]

Thanks, love. I'll get permission from other car owner first!!