{"id":131520,"date":"2025-02-26T18:18:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T02:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=131520"},"modified":"2025-04-11T10:13:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T17:13:32","slug":"what-to-do-before-during-and-after-jump-starting-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-jump-starting-a-car\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do Before, During, and After Jump-Starting a Car"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column131520_e7f5af-61 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-7a4f7b  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-c8be32\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading131520_60f070-55, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading131520_60f070-55[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading131520_60f070-55\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading131520_60f070-55 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading131520_60f070-55[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading131520_60f070-55\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading131520_60f070-55 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading131520_60f070-55[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading131520_60f070-55\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading131520_60f070-55 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading131520_60f070-55\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To jump-start your vehicle, you&rsquo;ll need to park both cars close to each other, turn off their engines, and locate the battery terminals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After jump-starting your car, you have to keep it running to let the alternator charge your battery. Some recommend letting it idle, while others recommend driving your vehicle around.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How long a car battery takes to charge after jump-starting will depend on several factors, such as the battery&rsquo;s condition, size, and the amount of charge it had left before it was jumped. Usually, if the battery is good, just idling the car for 10 minutes will allow the alternator to deliver enough power to restart the car, but some recommend driving for 30 minutes to around an hour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Accidentally leaving your headlights on, faulty relays, and extreme weather conditions are just some of the things that can drain your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-does-a-car-battery-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"car battery\">car battery<\/a> and leave you with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/my-car-wont-start-what-should-i-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"car that won&rsquo;t start\">car that won&rsquo;t start<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While newer vehicles will kill the headlights after a certain amount of time to save the battery even if you leave the headlights on, most older cars won&rsquo;t do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, jump-starting your car shouldn&rsquo;t be too hard to do by yourself as long as you don&rsquo;t forget any of the steps and have some really good jumper cables.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column131520_bee733-e8 kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id131520_6b5cd2-b0 alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column131520_b57aa8-8f kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad .image-is-svg, .kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image131520_80bbe0-ad\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column131520_4b17aa-0d inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            Lousy jumper cables have frustrated many a new DIY person because they can look okay and still not be sufficient to get the job done. Most smaller cars are easier to jump start than larger vehicles with V8 engines or diesels.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Warning:<\/em><\/strong><em> Don&rsquo;t ever work around a car battery without eye protection regardless of how often you&rsquo;ve done it before or how many other people you see doing it. Batteries can explode without warning and you can sustain serious injury. Wear wrap-around safety glasses or protective goggles.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Jump-Start Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-if-you-reverse-jumper-cables-other-mistakes-when-jumpstarting-your-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Jumping a dead battery\">Jumping a dead battery<\/a> is a relatively easy task. However, you&rsquo;ll need another vehicle with a functional battery and jumper cables. You also need to be able to properly identify the positive and negative terminals on each battery. This is very important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are tips on how to jump-start your car:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Park Both Cars Close to Each Other<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ideally, the two vehicles should be face-to-face. You need to know where the battery is on each vehicle and you can tell by opening the hood how you need to position the vehicles so your jumper cables will reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turn Off Both Vehicles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before popping open their hoods, turn off both cars first. Of course, the car with the dead battery will already be turned off, so there&rsquo;s that. Letting the vehicles run while jump-starting the dead battery can cause explosive hydrogen gas from the battery&rsquo;s electrolyte to ignite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Warning:<\/em><\/strong><em> If you smell a rotten egg smell coming from the dead battery, don&rsquo;t try to jump the vehicle off, because the battery may be internally shorted and jumping the vehicle can be dangerous.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>If you smell a rotten egg smell coming from the dead battery, don&rsquo;t try to jump the vehicle off, because the battery may be internally shorted and jumping the vehicle can be dangerous.<\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em>&ndash;&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\">Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Locate the Battery Terminals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A car battery has two terminals: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-tell-positive-and-negative-terminals-on-a-car-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"positive terminal and the negative terminal\">positive terminal and the negative terminal<\/a>. You can identify these by looking at the top of the battery next to each post, where you&rsquo;ll see a + on the positive side and a &ndash; on the negative side. Do this on both vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column131520_fac938-de{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column131520_fac938-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column131520_fac938-de kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id131520_16de1f-49 alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column131520_779a78-41 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column131520_779a78-41 kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image131520_674dc3-b8.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image131520_674dc3-b8 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image131520_674dc3-b8.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image131520_674dc3-b8 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image131520_674dc3-b8 figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image131520_674dc3-b8 .image-is-svg, .kb-image131520_674dc3-b8 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image131520_674dc3-b8 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image131520_674dc3-b8\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column131520_49c2ba-f2 inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            You can&rsquo;t go by the color of the cables or terminals because sometimes they&rsquo;re the same color or the wrong colors.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Connect the Red Jumper Lead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Take one end of the red jumper cable and connect it to the dead battery&rsquo;s positive terminal. Then, connect the other end of the red jumper cable to the donor battery&rsquo;s positive terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Connect the Black Jump Lead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, connect one end of the black jumper cable to the negative terminal of the donor battery. However, do not connect the other end to the dead battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complete the Circuit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Connecting the black jumper cable to the dead battery&rsquo;s negative terminal can cause the battery to spark and explode. To complete the circuit, you&rsquo;ll have to connect it to a good engine ground, but choose a place that isn&rsquo;t painted or extremely rusty metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start the Working Car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let the vehicle with the functional battery idle for around 10 to 15 minutes, so it can charge your car&rsquo;s dead battery. This is especially important if you suspect that your jumper cables are not the best kind. If you have really good jumper cables, you can simply start the car with the dead battery immediately. With jumper cables, you get what you pay for. Good ones will be heavy, with thick wires and good clamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Your Car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After a while, you can go ahead and start your vehicle and you should be able to disconnect the jumper cables immediately. If the dead battery car dies, the alternator isn&rsquo;t charging and that needs to be dealt with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disconnect the Jumper Cables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&rsquo;s how to take the jumper cables off correctly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Disconnect the black jumper cable from its earthing point on your car<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disconnect the black jumper cable from the donor car&rsquo;s negative terminal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove the red jumper cable from the donor car&rsquo;s positive terminal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disconnect the red jumper cable from your vehicle&rsquo;s battery.<br><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What To Do After Jump-Starting Your Car<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After jump-starting your car, you have to keep it running to let the alternator charge your battery. Some recommend letting it idle, while others recommend driving your vehicle around instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Connected to the engine&rsquo;s crankshaft, the alternator creates an electrical current that powers various electrical systems in your vehicle. It also charges the battery, allowing your vehicle to operate properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Long Does It Take To Charge a Car Battery?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-charge-a-car-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"How long a car battery takes to charge\">How long a car battery takes to charge<\/a> after jump-starting will depend on several factors, such as the battery&rsquo;s condition, size, and the amount of charge it had left before it was jumped. Usually, if the battery is good, just idling the car for 10 minutes will allow the alternator to deliver enough power to restart the car, but some recommend driving for 30 minutes to around an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms of a Dying Battery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car won&rsquo;t start even with a successful jump, then your battery might be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/5-signs-of-a-bad-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"dying or damaged\">dying or damaged<\/a>. Here are signs of a dying battery:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dim Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your headlights start to flicker or dim, then it might be time to get a new battery. A dying battery won&rsquo;t have enough power to keep your headlights on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Illuminated Check Engine Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/check-engine-light-flashing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"illuminated check engine light\">illuminated check engine light<\/a> can be caused by different issues, including a dying battery. If it&rsquo;s accompanied by unusual clicking noises, then it&rsquo;s likely a dying battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pungent Odor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you catch a whiff of rotten eggs, then it might be hydrogen gas being created by boiling electrolyte due to an internal battery short circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Keep Your Car Battery Healthy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After jump-starting your car, don&rsquo;t forget to take good care of it. Here are tips on proper car battery maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drive Your Car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Letting your car sit for weeks at a time can cause your battery to die. To prevent this, you should drive your vehicle every day or let it run for at least 10 to 15 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Charge the Battery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If driving your car regularly isn&rsquo;t an option, then you&rsquo;ll have to use a mobile charger instead. You can use a trickle charger that connects your car battery to a power outlet in your garage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on your vehicle, you might have to charge it every month. Just be careful not to overcharge your car battery, or it might end up leaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check the Battery Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most car batteries typically last three to six years, which means it might be time for a replacement if your vehicle&rsquo;s battery is over three years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A battery is like an electrical gas tank that gets smaller every year until it is too small to hold any cold cranking amps (CCA). There are inexpensive tools you can buy to check cold cranking amps and keep track of how they&rsquo;re fading away as your battery gets older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Test the Battery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can test the voltage, but a CCA test as mentioned above is the best indicator of battery health once the battery is charged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When testing the voltage, it&rsquo;s recommended to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-test-a-car-battery-with-a-multimeter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"test your battery\">test your battery<\/a>&rsquo;s resting, crank cycle, and idling voltage every six months. Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/why-is-there-a-14-volt-reading-for-your-car-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"ideal voltage readings\">ideal voltage readings<\/a> for a healthy battery:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Resting Voltage: 12.2 to 12.6 volts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crank Cycle Voltage: Above 10 volts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Idling Voltage: 14 &ndash; 14.5 volts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your battery tests lower than these numbers, then you likely need a replacement.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Accidentally leaving your headlights on, faulty relays, and extreme weather conditions are just some of the things that can drain&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-jump-starting-a-car\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":133073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3744],"tags":[73],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-131520","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-ignition-system","9":"tag-battery","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What To Do Before, During, and After Jump-Starting a Car - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Need to jump-start your car? Here are the best tips on how to jump-start your vehicle, proper car battery maintenance, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-jump-starting-a-car\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What To Do Before, During, and After Jump-Starting a Car - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Need to jump-start your car? Here are the best tips on how to jump-start your vehicle, proper car battery maintenance, and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-jump-starting-a-car\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-27T02:18:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-11T17:13:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/car-jumping-101.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-jump-starting-a-car\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-jump-starting-a-car\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. 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