How to..

Here is a good one that I have had to put to use many a time. I have to thank Brian for teaching me this, and now will impart my knowledge on to the rest of you.

13/365: How to...

Jump a car

1. You should always keep jumper cables with you. My truck had a nice little storage box by the engine that mine were always resting in. The trunk, by the spare tire, also makes a good place that is out of the way but easily accesible. Seriously, don't be the one without those cables. They're life savers.

2. Ensure that your car is actually dead before you try to jump it. This could eliminate potential hazards for your car and for the car that is jumping. Try to turn the car on and listen to the sound it makes. If the car turns over at all, it is not the battery. If there is no noise, or just a low solid tone, chances are you have a batter issue.

3. Start with both cars off. Then, I start with a good ground- this will help you not elecrocute yourself if you are dumb enough to hold the metal clamps when you start up the engine. Take one plack (negative) clamp and connect it to a metal, flat surface of the dead engine block.

4. Connect the other negative clamp to the negative post on the battery of the car who will be doing the jumping.

5. The two red clamps should be placed on the postive posts of the batteries, ensureing that the clamps stay in their predetermined pairs. I tend to do the dead car first just so that the last clamp I connect is the "live" clamp.

6. After this, start the jumping car up and let it sit for ahile. After a couple minutes, try to start the dead car up. Don't turn the engine over too many times, you'll just waste the charge you're building up. Give it a while and if you have to, rev the engine of the live car while turning the dead car over.

Troubleshooting

If this still doesn't work, or your cars starts but dies again next time you turn it off, or even during movement, here are some things you may try. Take some baking soda and water and clean the posts and battery wire connectors. Scrub the concoction on their, let it sit for a minute, then scrub it off. You may have to peel the cover of the wires back a little bit and use some untainted wire surface for your new connections. Take the battery down to your local parts store and have them test it. Remember, usually they will have to check your alternator first (however, this could be a problem with the same symptoms). After that, resort to wikipedia, lol.

Anyway, remember, you arn't a man unless you know how to do this- and ladies, we're tired of sending our friends home and quitting our man nights to drive thirty minutes out of the way to jump your car because you didn't know what to do (blah blah blah- don't attack the messenger, every man feels this way. I can be there to support you, I know that's what you want- not a solution to the problem, but seriously, during a hockey game?! You gotsta be crazy)

Anyway- just a little hip pocket knowledge to tuck away for you. Hope someone learned something.