When you are jump-starting a car, what should you do after connecting the cables?

After connecting the cables while jump-starting a car, the correct action is to ask the driver of the disabled car to start their engine. This is because once the cables are properly connected, the electrical current is flowing from the helping vehicle's battery to the disabled vehicle's battery. Encouraging the driver of the disabled car to start the engine allows the battery to draw that electrical charge, which is necessary for successfully starting the engine.

Once the cables are connected, it’s essential to ensure that the connection is solid and that the driver of the disabled vehicle is ready to attempt starting the car, as this will facilitate the process efficiently. The timing of when to start the vehicle matters, and it’s important that the driver focuses on starting the engine, rather than performing any actions that could disrupt the connection, like revving the engine of the helper car or disconnecting cables prematurely.