Jump starts on newer cars may be complicated

Dear Car Talk: We live in Minnesota and have two 2009 cars, which we park on the street. Last winter, the battery failed on one of our cars when the temperature had been below minus 10 degrees for … a while.

As sensible Minnesotans do, we have jumper cables in the trunk. A friendly shopkeeper offered to let us jump our car off of hers. White on white — red on red — but there were no white and red terminals on her newer, more modern battery! It was a more recent Chevrolet. Please explain! — Sharon

A: Jump-starting is more complicated than it used to be, Sharon. Just like feeding a family of four.

You used to be able to throw some slop on four plates and everybody was happy. Now, one person is vegan, another is pescatarian, one is lacto-ovo and the fourth one refuses to eat breadcrumbs.

Cars used to have two, easily accessible and clearly marked battery terminals. But, now, lots of manufacturers don’t want you getting anywhere near the battery. And some batteries aren’t even under the hood any more.

Many now have “jump points,” which are standalone, remote terminal ends designed solely for jump-starting.

So, if you either don’t see the battery, see the battery, but can’t reach a terminal, or see the battery, but don’t see a plastic cover with a plus sign or the letters “POS” on it, check the owner’s manual for the position of the jump points in the engine.

By the way, every car my late brother Tom owned had the letters POS on it. But, in his case, they had periods after each letter.

Anyway, the jump points will usually have a plastic covering and will have that same plus sign or POS designation for the positive terminal. Once you find that, remove the plastic cover and attach your positive cable to that metal post.

The approved order is positive dead car to positive live car. Then, negative live car and negative dead car. Then duck.

Actually, we recommend that, instead of attaching the final jumper clamp to the negative terminal of the dead car, you attach it to a solid, substantial, bare piece of metal in the engine, like the engine block. That way, when that last connection creates a small spark, it won’t be near the battery.

You can also use the engine block as a negative terminal if you can’t reach the negative terminal or if the car doesn’t provide a negative jump point for you.

But, if you’re in doubt about how to do it, call for help. Don’t risk your safety or your car’s electronics, unless you’re in imminent danger of being eaten by mountain lions.

Once you’re done and you’ve got your car running, Sharon, the next step would be to move to Florida. Minus 10? Really?