Dad's Quick Take
With both cars off, connect: red to the dead battery's positive, red to the good battery's positive, black to the good battery's negative, and the last black to a bare metal spot on the dead car (not its battery). Start the good car, then the dead one. Order matters for safety.
The cable order (memorize this)
- Park the cars close, both off. Get out your jumper cables.
- Red clamp to the dead battery's + (positive).
- Red clamp to the good battery's +.
- Black clamp to the good battery's – (negative).
- Black clamp to bare metal on the dead car (an unpainted bolt/bracket), away from the battery.
- Start the good car, wait a minute, then start the dead car.
- Remove cables in reverse order, and drive the revived car a while to recharge.
Safety first
Positive (+) is usually red; negative (–) is black. Never let the clamps touch each other while connected, and that final black goes to bare metal, not the dead battery — it prevents sparks near battery gases.
Common questions
It still won't start — now what?
If it won't turn over after a few minutes, the battery may be fully dead or the problem is something else. Call roadside assistance.
Do I need to replace the battery after?
If it keeps dying, yes — get it tested. A jump is a rescue, not a permanent fix.