# Refresh my memory: how do I jump off a car battery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362 "2004-11-17T22:55:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362/1 "2004-11-17T22:55:15Z")
Odd the things you forget: I had to do this so many times in college (when I drove Victor, my less than reliable Yugo) you’d think I could do it blindfolded, but a friend asked me to drop by after work to jump her off (purely automotively) and I’m trying to remember. IIRC: Positive on first to the terminal of the dead battery, then to the terminal of the live battery Next do the negative terminals, dead battery first Start the car with the live battery, then after a moment the “to be jumped” car Remove the positives first, then the negatives Is this right? Do I turn off the ignitions before removing the cables? It’s been a while. Thanks J ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362/2 "2004-11-17T22:56:24Z")
place car battery on floor. Stand on car battery. Jump off car battery. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362/3 "2004-11-17T23:03:14Z")
The negative connection on the dead car goes to ground, i.e. the frame, not to the dead battery terminal. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362/4 "2004-11-17T23:05:48Z")
Also, you don’t need to shut the cars off when disconnecting. Just be careful about where the connections are when unhooking. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362/5 "2004-11-17T23:29:08Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > Also, you don’t need to shut the cars off when disconnecting. Just be careful about where the connections are when unhooking. You should also avoid having the cars touch each other, too. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362/6 "2004-11-17T23:34:56Z")
Yep, good call **Mr. Blue Sky**. Here’s a good, simple step by step on jumping batteries. > **[Car Maintenance, Repairs, & How-Tos](https://www.liveabout.com/car-how-tos-4688153)** > > It's both useful and empowering to know how to fix your own car. Whether you need to test the condition of your car battery, fix your AC, or simply change your tires, learn how with these step-by-step tutorials. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refresh-my-memory-how-do-i-jump-off-a-car-battery/275362/7 "2004-11-17T23:35:13Z")
I seem to recall that the “correct” order for connecting jumper cables is: Positive terminal of dead battery Positive terminal of live battery Negative terminal of live battery Ground (any big, metallic part of the engine of the dead battery’s car will do) Disconnect in reverse order.