How to use and store jumper cables

Jumper cables are a gear you always want to have with you but hope you’ll never actually need to use. These cables can be a lifesaver when your battery is dead and your car won’t start, or when you get the chance to help out someone who’s been stranded by a bad battery.

Knowing how to use the cables appropriately and how to store them safely will make it that much easier to help both yourself and others out of a sticky situation.

You might have a hard time finding the battery under the hood of some vehicles. That’s because it may be in the trunk or, in the case of some SUVs, under the load floor in the cargo area. In these installations, you’ll likely find an access panel that lifts up over the positive terminal of the battery, alongside a ground terminal that might not be the actual battery ground itself. Your owner’s manual can help you find the battery as well.

Jumper cables, also called booster cables, seem pretty straightforward. The black alligator clamps connect to the negative ( – ) or ground on each vehicle, while the red alligator clamps connect to the positive ( + ) terminal on each car's battery, completing the electric circuit between the two vehicles and allowing them to share the electricity needed to run the starter on the dead automobile. It’s not as simple as just connecting the clamps, however. With both vehicles off, you’ll want to use the following sequence:

1. Connect to the positive terminal on the good battery.

2. Connect the positive terminal on the bad battery.

3. Connect the negative terminal on the bad battery. Don’t connect the negative clamp to the good battery.

4. Look for an unpainted piece of metal in the engine bay to use as a ground, and clamp there instead — it will offer a better connection, without risking damage to the good battery.

5. Once clamped on, start the car with the good battery, let it idle for a minute and then crank the car with the dead battery for five seconds, or until it starts.

Wait a minute or two between each five-second pull to make sure you don’t drain the other vehicle’s electrical system. Jumper cables need to stay clean and free of corrosion to ensure they can transmit enough power to get a car started. Most cables come with a protective bag you can use to store them in your trunk, but it’s important not to get that bag wet and to clean off any dirt or rust that could form on the leads. Cables can corrode on the inside, too — this is harder to spot, but generally if you keep them dry you won’t have to worry.

Six Ways You Could be Killing Your Car

Owning a car can be a dream or a nightmare depending on how well you take care of your vehicle. The following are six things that many motorists do that can harm their car and their wallet.


Ignoring the check engine light. Ignoring an illuminated check engine light can result in serious engine trouble and costly repairs. At the very least, this warning light could alert you to an engine problem that is negatively impacting fuel economy.


Failing to change fluids and filters. Many fluids are required for the operation and protection of vehicle systems and components. Checking fluid levels regularly, along with the filters, helps ensure that your vehicle runs dependably and extends vehicle life.


Neglecting your tires. Your vehicle’s tires should be checked frequently for inflation and tread depth. Underinflated tires can wear out more quickly, needing to be replaced sooner, and can negatively impact safety, gas mileage and performance.


Not following a service schedule. Because many car parts and components wear out or become damaged over time, vehicles need to be routinely serviced in order to perform optimally. Routine inspections and timely repairs will help keep your car running efficiently and will help you avoid more expensive repairs down the road.


Keeping a dirty car. Allowing your car to go too long without a wash leads to buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt, increases the potential for rust from road salt and interferes with proper visibility needed for safe driving.


Being a severe driver. Whether it’s stop-and-go traffic, extreme weather, rough roads or heavy loads, it can sometimes be difficult to limit severe driving conditions. However, you can drive smart and improve fuel economy by observing the speed limit; avoiding aggressive driving, including quick starts and stops; not hauling unnecessary items; and keeping your vehicle properly tuned.

How Car Companies Choose Paint Colors

What colors are most popular?

The plainest ones—whites, grays, silvers, blacks—made up three-quarters of worldwide new-car sales in 2015. This, despite PPG research that has found nearly 60 percent of potential buyers consider the color of their new car as a “major factor” when shopping. Like staging a home, it’s easiest to sell any car in neutral, inoffensive tones, and that’s what most dealers do. It’s not uncommon to find half a dozen shades of gray on a lineup of luxury cars yet only one red or blue.

Can boring colors look hot?

Yes; it’s all about how the automaker applies the paint. Some colors are created with a metallic base coat under a tinted clear-coat. Others combine the primer with the base coat. Still others use a deeper-looking, three-layer process wherein the first coat is stripped of all mica and aluminum, the second coat adds them in the middle, and then the clear-coat is applied. Whether it’s a mirror finish or an intense sparkle, the specific process can make otherwise ordinary shades more intriguing.

Why do certain colors become popular?

PPG looks at everything colored—architecture, clothing, electronics, nature—and lets automakers pick from a new round of color palettes every year. These colors, adjusted for each automaker’s preferences, won’t go into production for another three years.

What’s on the horizon?

Right now, browns, oranges, and golds are garnering attention. Lighter blues are making a comeback. Two-tone and matte finishes, almost exclusively for exotic cars just a few years ago, are trickling into the mainstream. Trace amounts of color-shifting pigments, in which precisely layered metallic flakes create subtle, multiple hues, are also popular.

Can I expect my paint to last?

With proper owner care, automakers expect their paint finishes to last without dulling or fading for at least 10 years.

How to Prevent Serious Vehicle Damage

Potholes form when moisture collects in small holes and cracks in the road surface. As temperatures rise and fall, the moisture expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. This breaks up the pavement and, combined with the weight of passing cars, eventually results in a pothole.

To aid motorists in protecting their vehicles from pothole damage, AAA recommends the following:

Inspect Tires – Make sure tires are properly inflated and have enough tread . An underinflated or badly worn tire is more likely to suffer damage, or allow the wheel or suspension to be damaged, when hitting a pothole. When checking tire pressures, ensure they are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended levels, which can be found in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s door jamb. Do not use the pressure levels stamped on the sidewall of the tire. To check the tread depth, insert a quarter into the tread groove with Washington’s head upside down. The tread should cover part of Washington’s head. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to start shopping for new tires.

Inspect Suspension – Make certain struts, shock absorbers and other suspension parts are in good condition. Changes in vehicle handling, excessive vibration or uneven tire wear can indicate damaged or worn components. Have the suspension inspected by a certified technician if you suspect problems.

Look Ahead – Make a point of checking the road ahead for potholes. An alert driver may have time to avoid potholes, so it’s important to stay focused on the road and not any distractions inside or outside the vehicle. Before swerving to avoid a pothole, check surrounding traffic to ensure this won’t cause a collision or endanger nearby pedestrians or cyclists.

Slow Down – If a pothole cannot be avoided, reduce speed safely being sure to check the rearview mirror before any abrupt braking. Hitting a pothole at higher speeds greatly increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels and suspension components

Beware of Puddles – A puddle of water can disguise a deep pothole. Use care when driving through puddles and treat them as though they may be hiding potholes.

Check Alignment – Hitting a pothole can knock the wheels out of alignment and affect the steering. If a vehicle pulls to the left of right, have the wheel alignment checked by a qualified technician.

Recognize Noises/Vibrations – A hard pothole impact can dislodge wheel weights, damage a tire or wheel, and bend or even break suspension components. Any new or unusual noises or vibrations that appear after hitting a pothole should be inspected immediately by a certified technician.

Back-Up Cameras

The results of a AAA survey of motorists who own a car with a rearview camera or a sensor-based backing aid (a device that produces warning beeps) may answer your question. Of more than a thousand respondents, 93 percent said they wanted one in their next vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finds rearview cameras to be so beneficial that it’s requiring all new cars and light trucks to have one by May 2018. Take a peek at the website kidsandcars.org and you’ll understand why. One page is filled with photos of adorable little kids who were killed while being backed over, 70 percent of them by a parent or another relative. The website says that each week in the U.S., 50 children are backed over—and that two of them die from their injuries.

All reason enough for NHTSA’s mandate. But also think of all the damaged bumpers and fenders—that is, property damage—that could be prevented if drivers had a clearer view behind their vehicles before they backed into a post, a wall, or another vehicle.

What’s more, the potential for back-up accidents has increased in recent years. Here’s why:

An aging population. Age often brings reduced head and neck flexibility, making it difficult for older drivers to look behind their cars.

Styling trends. The coupe-like body design of many sedans these days dictates wide rear pillars and narrow rear windows, both of which reduce rear visibility.

Larger vehicles. Large vehicles often have blind zones behind them; objects in those areas can’t be seen in rearview mirrors. Moreover, vans and SUVs often have several rows of seats with a forest of head restraints that block rear vision.

The 2002 Infiniti Q45 was perhaps the first production car in the U.S. with what we now call a rearview camera—a small camera lens in the rear bumper that sends an image to an in-dash screen. Today, about one-third of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. include a rearview camera as standard equipment. But you don’t have to buy a new car to get one. Aftermarket rearview cameras are available at car audio, auto parts, and big-box electronic stores, starting at about $80.

Last year, the Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center (ARC) tested both factory-installed and aftermarket rearview cameras. They generally worked well, increasing visibility in the blind zone by an average of 46 percent.

It’s important to note that that’s not a 100 percent improvement. A single camera lens typically mounted near the license plate doesn’t see all—a cat or a child under the bumper, for example. Pavement that slopes up sharply behind a car makes objects appear farther away than they are. Snow and dirt can cloud the lens, and so on.

All of which means that a rearview camera is no substitute for walking around your car and looking in mirrors and over your shoulder before throwing your car into reverse. “The camera is only an adjunct device,” says Albert Austria, lead engineer at ARC.

But rearview camera systems are improving. Tesla and Volkswagen are testing cameras that will replace traditional side-view mirrors. I’ve recently driven a sports car (BMW i8), a crossover (Nissan Rogue), and a pickup truck (Ford F-150) with multiple cameras that give an impressive bird’s-eye view all around the vehicle. One more plus: Not only do such camera systems have the potential to save lives, they also make exiting a crowded parking lot easier and safer.

Car Maintenance