If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to do it safely.

Caution: Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because:

Notice: Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to the vehicle that would not be covered by the warranty.

1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system.

Notice: If the other vehicle's system is not a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.

2. If you have a vehicle with a diesel engine with two batteries (or more), you should know before you begin that, especially in cold weather, you may not be able to get enough power from a single battery in another vehicle to start your diesel engine.

If your vehicle has more than one battery, use the battery that's closer to the starter - this will reduce electrical resistance.

3. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you don't want. You wouldn't be able to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems.

To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear not in NEUTRAL.

Notice: If you leave the radio or other accessories on during the jump starting procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by the warranty. Always turn off the radio and other accessories when jump starting the vehicle.

4. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn off the radio and all lamps that aren't needed. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!
5. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminal locations of the other vehicle.

Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump starting terminal and a remote negative (-) jump starting terminal. You should always use these remote terminals instead of the terminals on the battery.

The remote positive (+) terminal is located behind a red plastic cover, if equipped, near the engine accessory drive bracket. To uncover the remote positive (+) terminal, open the red plastic cover, if equipped.

The remote negative (-) terminal is located on the engine drive bracket on all V8 and diesel engines, and on the thermostat housing on the 8.1L engine. On V8 engines it is marked "GND."

On V6 engines the remote negative (-) terminal is located on a tab attached to the engine accessory drive bracket where it is marked "GND."

See Engine Compartment Overview for more information on location.

Caution: Using a match near a battery can cause battery gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this, and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if you need more light.

Be sure the battery has enough water. You do not need to add water to the battery installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take care of that first. If you do not, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you. Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it in your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with water and get medical help immediately.

Caution: Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts once the engine is running.

6. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.

Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to positive (+) or a remote positive terminal (+) if the vehicle has one. Negative (-) will go to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or a remote negative (-) terminal if the vehicle has one.

Don't connect positive (+) to negative (-) or you'll get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts too. And don't connect the negative (-) cable to the negative (-) terminal on the dead battery because this can cause sparks.

On vehicles equipped with dual batteries, make all battery connections to the remote positive (+) and remote negative (-) terminals.




7. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.



8. Don't let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.



9. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the negative (-) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote negative (-) terminal if the vehicle has one. The vehicle's remote negative (-) terminal is marked GND.
10. Don't let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end of the negative (-) cable doesn't go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted metal engine part of the vehicle with the dead battery, or to a remote negative (-) terminal if the vehicle has one.

V8 Engine





8.1L Engine





V8 Engine, Diesel Similar




11. Connect the other end of the negative (-) cable to the remote negative (-) terminal, marked GND, on the vehicle with the dead battery.
12. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while.
13. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it won't start after a few tries, it probably needs service.

Notice: If the jumper cables are connected or removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always connect and remove the jumper cables in the correct order, making sure that the cables do not touch each other or other metal.

1. Jumper Cable Removal

   
   
   

   Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote Negative (-) Terminal

2. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote Negative (-) Terminals

3. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal

To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles do the following:

1. Disconnect the black negative (-) cable from the vehicle that had the bad battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (-) cable from the vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other vehicle.
5. Return the positive (+) remote terminal cover to its original position.