Safe Jump Start...

[AlumniClub]

Safely jump-starting your car.

Editied by: keith

[AlumniClub]

Everyone with a car needs to know how to safely jump-start their car battery. You can prevent serious injury to your eyes by following these 10 simple suggestions.

1. Check your battery for cracks, corrosion, and loose wires every time you change your oil.

2. Always wear a pair of splash-proof polycarbonate goggles when jump-starting your battery. Your goggles should have a Z-87 label on the frame. This means your goggles are certified use during auto repairs.

3. Never smoke or use anything that may spark when working on your battery. Car batteries contain hydrogen and oxygen, two gasses that could ignite and explode.

4. Make sure your jumper cables are rust and corrosion free before using them. Check that there are no exposed wires on your cables. Never use electrical tape to cover exposed wires.

5. Never jump-start your battery if your car's fluids are frozen.

6. Buy a battery that is recommended in your car owner's manual.

7. Never throw a car battery in a garbage dumpster or leave it in a parking lot, especially if it is cracked or otherwise damaged. Take it to a service station to have it disposed of properly.

8. When choosing a new battery, make sure its terminals are sturdy and large enough for the clamps of your jumper cables. This will help you to attach them easily if necessary.

9. Always call a professional if you are unsure of how to jump-start your battery.

10. Prevent Blindness America offers a battery safety sticker that lists the correct steps for jump-starting a battery. Call us at 1-800-331-2020 for a free sticker.


For more information on eye safety, email us at info@preventblindness.org, contact us online, or call 1-800-331-2020.


SOURCE: http://www.preventblindness.org/safety/battery.html


GB2

[CarGuy]

Oh... and you guys forgot on more thing. Make sure that you connect the negative to the negative( negative is the black one ), and the positive to the positive ( positive is the red one ) lol !!

[Crys]

I just got a new Cobalt, and I'm going to have to learn this from scratch again! The battery is in the trunk by the spare tire, but there's a post in the front you use to jump the battery. It's very strange.

[pk]

With the cold weather soon to be on us I saw this forum and thought maybe it should be brought back up. Alot of car batteries are dead in the winter and alot of people get jump starts.

In case you may need to jump start your car this winter check out this forum first. Alot of good advice here.

pk

[rudedog]

i read this topic to late.

had to jump the pickup this morning, while it was in a church parking lot.
i got some cables from a friend, and then had to go from car to car looking for one where you could actually get to the terminals. i cant believe that they bury the batterys in these new cars. finally a buddy with an old ford pulled up. if i had to rely on those new minivans i would be frozen solid by now.

like crys said there is a post in the front. but its part of the under the hood fuse box. theres no way i was going to take a chance of frying someones fuse system just to jump a pickup.

just about when you think you have seen every stupid thing man can possibly do, they do something new.

im still baffled. what was that guy smoking when he designed that?!
it was enough to make me wanna buy japanese.

[Hobo]

A handy thing to have is a portable jump starter. I have in mine & my spouses car.
Got it from Menards for $29. It will jump start a car, has an emergency light and a built-in air compressor.