Did you realize that jump-starting a car creates panic in the minds of many people?

Although more women than men seem to develop some major anxiety issues when they realize that they need to get those jumper cables, the guys sometimes show a little hesitation as well.

You can’t really blame people for a brief moment of jittery apprehension, because if the truth is to be told, there is a very small chance that a fire or an explosion could occur. Note that the important key phrase being used is “small chance.”

However it does pay to understand how to get your car battery jump-started without getting yourself blown up in the process.
If you need to understand the conditions that can cause an “OOPS” event like a battery exploding in front of your face, here is a brief overview of the facts.

Hydrogen gas forms when a battery is discharging energy and losing fluid. This gas is highly flammable and a spark from the engine or battery cables could potentially create a devastating scenario, but this is pretty unlikely.

The hydrogen gas would have to become very dense before this occurred and this would only take place if the battery had been unused for a long period of time without any air circulation to disturb it. Possible? Yes. Likely?

Now let’s take a look at the steps you need to follow to safely jump-start your car.

1. You can use a portable jumper device that lets you do this task as a one-man show. You just need to remember to connect the red cable to the positive terminal, or post, and the black ground to the negative post. Batteries are color-coded and they also have the (+ and -) symbols that will help you keep things straight.
2. It’s a good idea to always ground your jumper cables first so make sure that you attach the black cable first. In a pinch you can ground it by clamping it to any metal part that is near the hood. Some people feel that attaching the cable to metal lessens the chance of any type of explosion and is a better grounding source. Both cables must be attached to the battery in the car that is providing the boost.
3. Never, ever hook the red (+) cable to a black (-) post and the black (-) one to the red (+) post because remember the talk about the explosion? Well, this backwards hookup has a much higher chance of causing this type of event.
4. If you are using another vehicle to boost your car battery it can be parked close, but should not be touching your car.
5. The jumper cables should be in good condition.
6. The cables should not be dangling down inside the engine compartments of either car. Excess cable should always be placed on the outside of the vehicles, or even on the ground.
7. Make sure the ignition is off on both automobiles and engage the parking brake. An automatic transmission needs to have the gearshift in Park and a car with a standard transmission should be in Neutral. Check to make sure the lights and radio are all off so there is no further drain to the battery. It is a good idea to have your hazard lights flashing, or set out the roadside flares so other drivers see the disabled vehicle.
8. The car that is giving the boost to the battery should then start the car and let it idle while the cables recharge the dead battery. This should only take a couple of minutes and then the jump-start will be completed.
If you follow these simple suggestions this common car tip can be performed without worry or fear.

With the 24/7 emergency roadside service benefits with a Warranty Direct extended car warranty, you won’t have to worry about jumpstarting your car. Call today for a free quote – 1-800-632-4222.

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Filed under: Emergency Roadside Service, Safety

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