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Glovebox jump-start card

Fold it in half and keep it with your cables.

AptKeys

Glovebox jump-start card

Glasses and gloves on. Cracked, bulging or rotten-egg smell? Don't jump it.

  1. Both cars off, in park, parking brakes on. Both 12-volt.
  2. Red to dead +
  3. Red to good +
  4. Black to good −
  5. Last black to bare metal on the dead car, away from the battery
  6. Start the good car. Wait 3 to 5 minutes. Start yours.
  7. Remove in reverse order. Drive at least 20 minutes.
Jumper cable clamp orderFour panels. 1: red clamp on the dead battery's positive terminal. 2: other red clamp on the good battery's positive terminal. 3: black clamp on the good battery's negative terminal. 4: last black clamp on bare, unpainted metal on the dead car, away from the battery. Remove them in reverse order.1Red to dead ++−DEAD+−GOODbare metal2Red to good ++−DEAD+−GOODbare metal3Black to good −+−DEAD+−GOODbare metal4Black to metal+−DEAD+−GOODbare metalSolid line: red cable. Dashed line: black cable. Gold: the clamp you connect in that step.
Clamp order: red, red, black, metal. Take them off in reverse.

Hybrid or EV? Only the 12-volt battery can be jumped. Check the manual first.

Full lesson: How to jump-start a carChecked October 2, 2026. Sources: AAA; Consumer Reports; Kelley Blue Book.

Sources

  1. AAA How to jump a battery
  2. Consumer Reports How to jump-start a car with a dead battery
  3. Kelley Blue Book How to jump-start a battery
  4. AAA Got hybrid questions?

Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed. See a mistake?