Some of the simplest auto repairs can mean big dollars if done incorrectly. Here’s the scenario, you just got off work, you’re tired, you’re hungry, you’re feet hurt and you’re ready to go home. You get into your car and turn the key. Nothing happens! You’re battery is dead. One of your co-workers couldn’t help notice you sitting in your car beating you’re steering wheel and screaming like a banshee. Once your sanity returns and the fear of becoming collateral damage subsides, they come over and offer to “jump” your car off and get you back on the road. Now it’s decision time. Does this person actually know what they’re doing? A huge repair bill is looming if the friendly “jump” is done incorrectly.

Jumper cables should be connected properly to avoid sparks, which can cause an explosion of the hydrogen gas emitting from a battery. Beyond this, an incorrect hook up can damage critical, and expensive, electronic components.

The procedure is simple:

Connect the positive (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the healthy battery and the other positive clamp to the corresponding terminal of the dead battery. Next, the negative (-), or ground, terminal on the good battery and, finally, the negative clamp to the engine block, frame or other grounded metal as far as possible from the battery. You want to avoid sparks in the vicinity of the explosive hydrogen gas that emits from the battery. Do not connect it to the ground terminal (negative). You want to avoid any spark that may ignite any hydrogen gas emitting from the battery.

What happens if the jumper cables are hooked up incorrectly? Electricity is a funny thing. It will always take the path of least resistance. So, what happens to your car depends on the path the electricity takes. It may do something as minor as blow a fuse, to something as major as melting your vehicle’s engine wiring harness or frying your car’s computers. I have seen batteries literally explode which can cause physical harm to whoever is close to the battery.

A little knowledge can go a long way. A quick assist from a Good Samaritan can save your day or turn in to a costly ordeal or possible injury if the good deed is done incorrectly. Knowing the proper way to jump your vehicle is basic information that can save you time and money. Now, that’s something, You Auto Know.