jump start order of leads Page 262

Order matters if you’d rather spark life into the car than your eyebrows. Connect the red (+) to the flat battery, then the other red to the donor’s +. Put the black (−) on the donor’s negative, and the final black on a clean, unpainted metal point on the dead car—engine block or chassis, not its negative post. Start the donor, wait a minute, try the stricken car, then remove the clamps in reverse order: black from chassis, black from donor −, red from donor +, red from the revived battery. Don’t let the clamps kiss, keep accessories off, and bin the attempt if the battery’s swollen or leaking. If either car has stop‑start or an AGM/Li‑ion battery, check the handbook or use a proper jump pack—your alternator will thank you.