3 replies to this topic

[pwnage101]

I just watched five youtube videos and read three articles regarding "how to jump start a car". Without ever having done it, I can almost say that I am an experienced jump-starter! Every single video or article claims that the negative clamp connects to the metal frame of the dead car. My dad, however, claims he has been jumping cars for 50 years and that one should connect all four clamps to the respective terminals on both batteries. That means positive-to-positive and negative-to-negative. Is that an old trick that no longer works on newer cars?

[Cliffy]

pwnage101, on 14 December 2011 - 04:44 PM, said:

I just watched five youtube videos and read three articles regarding "how to jump start a car". Without ever having done it, I can almost say that I am an experienced jump-starter! Every single video or article claims that the negative clamp connects to the metal frame of the dead car. My dad, however, claims he has been jumping cars for 50 years and that one should connect all four clamps to the respective terminals on both batteries. That means positive-to-positive and negative-to-negative. Is that an old trick that no longer works on newer cars?

Nope, it'll work the way your Dad does it on newer cars too. I've only ever connected leads to their respective terminals when jump starting a car. Granted I've never had a new car, but it wont matter.

[Cloudy]

i think it doesnt matter where the negative goes so long as it goes somewhere safe, the point of jump starting is to give the drain battery more jice, done by the positive cable pushing the electrons forward, i might be wrong thou

[Chris Martyn]

Before you try jump starting a car, you need to determine that the battery is the reason the car isn’t starting up. If you turn the ignition and hear the engine cranking, a dead battery isn’t your problem and jump starting it won’t do a darn thing. However, if you turn the key and the car does absolutely nothing, then there’s a good chance you have a dead battery on your hands and jumping it may be your ticket to getting back on the road.