So, you’re stranded in a strip mall parking lot with a dead battery. Thankfully, there’s a kind passerby who’s willing to give you a jump start, and you’ve got jumper cables in the trunk.
But there’s just one problem—you don’t know how to hook them up.
Why? Because you can’t remember which battery terminal is positive and which is negative. Hopefully, you’ve got your smartphone handy, so you can view this article and get clarification. Then you can get a jumpstart and (hopefully) be back on the road.
Most batteries have a plus (+) and a minus (-) sign stamped into the case. These signs are also accompanied by colors, which are usually red and black.
Some people wonder: Is red positive on a car battery? And the answer is: Yes—at least most of the time.
Typically, there is a red protective cover (or a black cover featuring a red plus (+) sign) over the positive battery terminal. The cover is there to prevent accidental shorting.
In many cases, the battery cable itself will also be red in color. Though sometimes it’s black (or just really dirty), so you can’t always go by color alone.
The negative battery cable is almost always black in color. But, as was mentioned, the positive cable may also appear to be black. That’s why you should always look for the plus (+) and minus (-) signs stamped into the battery case.
Jump starting a vehicle with a set of jumper cables is pretty easy. Here’s how it’s done:
Warning: Mixing up the jumper cables or touching the cable ends together can damage the vehicle and potentially cause personal injury.
The video below demonstrates the steps listed above:
Still confused about battery terminals, jumper cables, and jumpstarting? No problem! The owner’s manual for your car lists detailed instructions on jumpstarting and battery care.
What’s more, if you’ve misplaced the print copy of your owner’s manual, digital versions are often available online. You can get them through the vehicle manufacturer’s website (e.g., Toyota.com).
But as a general rule, always connect positive terminals first then the negatives. When disconnecting the terminals from the dead battery, pull out the negative terminals followed by the positive ones.
When installing a new battery, connect the positive terminal followed by the negative.
Jump starting a dead battery or installing a new one isn’t the only situation where you have to disconnect the negative terminal. This rule applies to most repair jobs that involve a vehicle’s electrical system.
Failure to disconnect the negative battery terminal increases the risk of a nearby tool or object shorting out against the positive battery terminal.
During instances where you have to remove only one battery terminal, always go for the negative one. Leaving the connection at the positive terminal won’t impose any safety risks.
If there’s something wrong with your car battery’s terminals, you might be better off getting a new one. Fortunately, finding a new car battery is easy with the help of CarParts.com.
You won’t have to worry about your new car battery dying on you any time soon — we make sure our products are just as good as your stock parts. Our car batteries are carefully vetted by a team of professionals to guarantee their quality and longevity.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.