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Originally posted by: 18 Days
Basically what colour wire goes on what part of the battery. And who's car has to be running?
That's a funny question to ask considering only one of the cars can be started.
With both cars not running, connect a red clamp to the dead battery's positive terminal, then the other red clamp to the live battery's positive, then a black one to the live negative, and finally connect the other black clamp to the metal body of the car with the dead battery. Start the car with the good battery. After a few moments, start yours. Remove the clamps in the exact opposite order that you connected them before you do anything else. Obviously, don't kill your car until the battery has had time to charge. Go for a pleasant drive in the country.
If it doesn't work, your battery might be totally kaput, or corrosion may have built up on the terminals. If you can get it off, the car may start just fine. Clean it with baking soda and water, then rinse it clean. Don't let baking soda get into the battery, though. It will neutralize the acid. Speaking of acid, don't let any battery acid get on you. You won't like that. Wash it off with lots of water if it does.
I've never heard of the boiling water trick. If anything, it might remove enough corrosion to let the battery start in some cases.
edit: Interesting. Couchmonkey's link contradicts what I wrote about the order of connections. Considering I double-checked before posting it, it makes me wonder if the order you connect to the positive terminals really matters.