How to Jumpstart a Car Battery Safely

Getting stuck with a dead car battery can happen to anyone. Luckily, jumpstarting your battery is often a quick fix to get you back on the road — safely and easily. In this guide, Auto Hero Roadside Assistance walks you through how to jumpstart a car battery properly, so you can avoid damage and get going fast.

📞 Need help now? Call Auto Hero on 1800 79 79 77 — Sydney’s trusted 24/7 roadside assistance.

🛠️ What You’ll Need to Jumpstart Your Car

A Battery Booster pack, Booster packs are rated for specific engine sizes, typically in liters.
A set of jumper cables (heavy-duty, insulated cables with clamps) 🔌
Another vehicle with a fully charged battery 🚙
Safety gear like gloves and eye protection (recommended) 🧤👓
A safe place to park both vehicles, ideally on flat ground 🅿️

⚡ Step-by-Step: How to Jumpstart a Battery

1. Position the Vehicles Safely

Park the working car close enough so the jumper cables can reach both batteries, but don’t let the cars touch. Turn off both vehicles and engage parking brakes. 🅿️🛑

2. Identify Battery Terminals

Locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on both batteries. Usually, red clamps connect to positive terminals and black clamps to negative. 🔴⚫

3. Connect the Jumper Cables in This Order:

Attach red clamp to the dead battery’s positive (+) terminal. 🔴
Attach the other red clamp to the live battery’s positive (+) terminal. 🔴
Attach black clamp to the live battery’s negative (-) terminal. ⚫
Attach the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the dead car’s engine block or frame, away from the battery. This helps prevent sparks near the battery. ⚫✨

4. Start the Working Car

Turn on the engine of the car with the good battery and let it run for a few minutes. 🔑🚗

5. Start the Dead Car

Try to start the car with the dead battery. If it doesn’t start, wait another minute and try again. ⏳🔄

6. Remove the Jumper Cables in Reverse Order

Once the dead car starts, carefully remove the cables in this order:

Black clamp from the engine block of the jumped car ⚫
Black clamp from the live battery ⚫
Red clamp from the live battery 🔴
Red clamp from the jumped battery 🔴

7. Keep the Engine Running

Let the jumped car run for at least 15-30 minutes or drive around to recharge the battery fully. 🔋🛣️

How to Jumpstart a Car Battery — We use and recommend NOCO battery boosters. They have good battery life, can boost a wide variety of vehicles, and provide about 80 boosts per charge cycle.

⚠️ Important Safety Tips

Never let the jumper cable clamps touch each other during the process. 🚫🔌
Avoid smoking or open flames near the batteries. 🚭🔥
Always connect the black negative clamp to a metal engine part, not the battery terminal, on the dead car. ⚫🔧
Use jumper cables rated for your vehicle size. ✔️
If your car has a start/stop button or electric systems, consult your owner’s manual for special instructions. 📖

📞 When to Call the Professionals

If your car doesn’t start after several jumpstart attempts, your battery might be faulty or there could be another issue. At Auto Hero Roadside Assistance, we provide fast, safe jumpstarting services across Sydney — anytime, anywhere.

📞 Call 1800 79 79 77 for expert help 24/7