Reply #26: Uh, no

[bongbong]

I don't know where you get your car information from, but you're wrong. I should add that in very rare pathological cases, your precaution is warranted, but it would be rare indeed.

The best way to give a jump is with both batteries connected to each car just like normal, in both cars. First, connect the positive terminal of the battery in the running car to the positive terminal of the dead car's battery. Then connect the negative of the cable to the neg terminal of the dead car's battery with the 2nd lead of the jumper cable. Finally, momentarily touch the negative of the jumper cable to the frame of your car to check if it. If there is a large spark, you need to figure out what is wrong with the connections or the dead battery or whatever. Also, if the running car slows down significantly, like more than 200 RPM, you'll have to investigate. If the spark is small or non existent and the revs don't slow down too much, you're in business - firmly connect the negative of the cable to the frame of your car, accelerate your engine to about 2K RPM, and tell the other driver to try starting the dead car.

"Frame" means any stout metal part visible in the engine compartment, like a suspension strut or equivalent.