Honda: How to Safely Jump Start Your Battery
Jump starting a dead battery is simple, and shouldn't take more than ten minutes. Knowing how to safely jump start your battery can get you out of a jam, and save you from professional service costs. Read on to learn more.
This article applies to the Honda Civic/Del Sol (1992-2000), and Accord (1990-2002).
Having a dead battery is no fun; however, the situation can quickly turn from bad to worse if you attempt to improperly jump start your car's battery. When done correctly, a jump start can save you a lot of time and effort. You'll need a trusty backup car to provide a sufficient amount of power for your car's battery. General safety rules apply, such as turning off all electrical accessories and putting the car in neutral or park. This article will guide you through the process to safely jump start your Honda Accord's or Civic's battery.
Materials Needed
- Jumper/booster cables
- Backup car with adequate battery power
Step 1 – Remove keys and connect jumper cables
- Remove the key from the ignition to make sure no electrical components are turned on.
- On the car with a good battery, connect the red clip of the jumper cable to the positive (red) terminal of the battery. Then, connect the other clip of the red cable to the positive (red) terminal of the dead battery.
- Connect the black clip of the jumper cable to the negative (black) terminal of the good battery. Then, on the dead battery attach the black clip of the jumper cable to a solid metal surface, such as a bracket or bolt to serve as the ground.
Figure 1. Connect the jumper cables to the proper battery terminals. 
Figure 2. Connect the black lead to a metal surface on the dead battery.
Pro Tip
Before connecting the cables, make sure the battery isn't frozen. Connecting the cables in such a state can cause it to rupture. If the battery is frozen, wait for it to thaw before connecting the jumper cables.
Step 2 – Try starting the car
Wait a few minutes, and try staring the car. If it doesn't start, wait a few minutes longer to try again. Make sure all of the cable connections are tight.
Step 3 – Disconnect cables and drive the car
Once the car is successfully running, disconnect the cables in the reverse order you connected them. Drive the car for about 30 minutes to recharge the battery. If you can't get your car to start, you will need to get a new car battery.
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