Do NOT do This When Jump Starting a Car

This Idaho cold weather can kill car batteries.

Improperly trying to jump start you car can kill car owners.

Tawsha's car battery died last week because of the cold, and it's been sitting in the parking lot at work for a few days. Today we tried to revive the silver beast by jump starting the battery.

It did not go well.

I (being the macho know-it-all man I am) didn't listen to Tawsha, and attached the jumper cables to the batteries in the order I could best remember. Which was the exact wrong order. Not only did I attach the cables out of order, I had them on the wrong terminals.

About :60 seconds later, the cable was literally smoking and the protective rubber coating was melting off and sticking to our cars. I immediately turned my car off and detached the cables, which were scalding hot.

Everyone is fine, no permanent damage done, but my lord it was a scary moment. I thought were were about :05 seconds a way from a car exploding and certain death.

I IMPLORE you, watch this video before attempting to jump start a dead car battery. Or, ask a car care professional for help. Don't be like me. Don't be a know-it-all.