Emergency Starting With Jumper Cables

wv dm 14.04.001

When using jumper cables, follow the instructions below.

    Warning: Batteries release explosive gas. Do not smoke when working around batteries. Put out all flames and remove all sources of sparks or intense heat in the vicinity of the battery. Do not allow the vehicles to touch each other. Do not lean over the batteries when making connections, and keep all other persons away from the batteries. Failure to follow these precautions could lead to severe personal injury as a result of an explosion or acid burns.

    Notice: Make sure that both starting systems are the same voltage. Electronic devices on both vehicles can be damaged when connected to a vehicle with a different operating voltage.

  1. Apply the parking brakes and turn off all lights and other electrical devices.

    2. Important: Do not attempt to jump start a damaged battery.

  2. Access the batteries under the passenger steps.

    3. Notice: Always connect the batteries and jumper cables correctly (positive-to-positive and negative-to-negative). Connecting a charging device backwards (positive-to-negative) can severely damage the vehicle electrical content and cause non-warrantable failures.

  3. Connect the positive (+) jumper cable to the positive terminal on the discharged battery. See Fig..
    Note: Disconnect jumper cables in the REVERSE order that they were connected.

    • Discharged Battery

    • Negative Ground Stud

    • Positive Jumper Cable

    • Negative Jumper Cable

    • Booster Battery

    1. 1st Connection: Positive Jumper Cable to Discharged Battery

    2. 2nd Connection: Positive Jumper Cable to Booster Battery

    3. 3rd Connection: Negative Jumper Cable to Booster Battery

    4. 4th Connection: Negative Jumper Cable to Negative Ground Stud (discharged battery)

    Fig. 1, Jumper Connections (three battery system shown for clarity)

  4. Connect the other end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal on the booster battery providing the charge.

    5. Warning: Do the next step exactly as instructed and do not allow the clamps of one cable to touch the clamps of the other cable. Otherwise, a spark could occur near a battery, possibly resulting in severe personal injury from explosion or acid burns.

  5. Connect the negative (-) jumper cable to the negative terminal on the booster battery.
  6. Connect the other end of the negative jumper cable to the negative ground stud on the vehicle requiring the jump start.
  7. Start the engine of the vehicle providing the jump start and let the engine run for a few minutes to charge the batteries of the other vehicle.

    8. Notice: Do not crank the engine for more than 30 seconds at a time during any of the following procedures. Wait two minutes after each try to allow the starter to cool. Failure to do so could cause starter damage.

  8. Attempt to start the engine of the vehicle with the batteries receiving the charge.
  9. When the engine starts, let it idle for a few minutes.

    10. Warning: Do the next step exactly as instructed and do not allow the clamps of one cable to touch the clamps of the other cable. Otherwise, a spark could occur near a battery, possibly resulting in severe personal injury from explosion or acid burns.

  10. Disconnect the negative jumper cable from the negative cable stud on the jump started vehicle.
  11. Disconnect the negative jumper cable from the booster battery.
  12. Disconnect the positive cable from the booster battery.
  13. Disconnect the other end of the positive jumper cable from the jump started vehicle.
  14. Close the battery access door at the passenger steps.
Note:
Parent topic: In an Emergency
Document Number: 0000071586
Manual Publication Date: 2024-03-26
Topic Publication Date: 2024-05-07