Nine times out of ten, the words "hot wire" summon images of car thievery. Of course, anyone who's been stranded in a hostile environment without their car keys knows better. Here's the trick to getting your vehicle moving again.

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Contents  [hide] 1 What you'll need 2 Try the screwdriver 3 Remove the ignition cover 3.1 Identify the battery and starter wires 4 Strip and connect the power wires 5 Connect the starter wires to the power wires 6 Things to consider

What you'll need

• Proof of ownership of the vehicle
• Flathead Screwdriver
• Wire strippers
• Insulated gloves

Try the screwdriver

If you're considering hot wiring your car, chances are you're already in dire straights. Before making things worse by removing the ignition cover and making a general mess of your vehicle, it might be worth trying the old 'screwdriver in the ignition' trick. All this calls for is inserting a flathead screwdriver in the ignition and turning it over like a regular key. If the car starts, you've saved yourself the hassle and electrical hazards of hot wiring.

No such luck? Don't fret. You'll still need the screwdriver for the following steps. Just be sure not to get it stuck in the ignition cylinder. 

Remove the ignition cover

Before continuing, be sure to exercise extreme caution. The following steps can result in painful electrical shocks, so follow the instructions carefully.

The first step to firing up the engine is gaining access to the wiring. Most cars have a large plastic panel that snaps together and covers the top and bottom of the steering column. You'll want to carefully remove these panels so that the tumbler (and the wires running into it) are exposed. At some point you'll want to put these pieces back together, so be sure to use a feather touch while separating them. 

Identify the battery and starter wires

You'll typically see three pairs of wires running into the back of the cylinder. Don't start freaking out -- each pair just represents a different key position on the ignition. In short, one pair should trigger the battery-only position, another pair the lights and radio position, etc. Of course, this also means one of the pair is responsible for the final key position -- or, starting the car.

But here's where it gets tricky. Even though everything you need is laid out in front of you, there's no universal color system for the wires. Consulting your car's manual is probably the best way to find out your vehicle's specific color code. However, in a pinch the red pair is usually the set that provides power to the car, and the brown (which can be a single wire or a pair depending on the car) handles the starter. 

Strip and connect the power wires

Once you've located the wires that provide power to the car, disconnect them from the cylinder. Use the wire stripper to remove the plastic from the ends and then twist them together. The fruits of your labor should be obvious -- power to the dashboard, lights, and pretty much everything else in the car.

Connect the starter wires to the power wires

Here's where things get dangerous. Although connecting the power wires is relatively safe, the wires responsible for starting the car carry live current. Under no circumstances should you touch the bare starter wires! With that in mind, strip the insulation off the ends of the wires and carefully touch them together. You should see a resulting spark and hear the engine fire up. Once it's started idling, be sure to separate and cover the ends of the starter wires. They still pose an electrical hazard even after the vehicle has started, and you don't want them dangling around your knees.

TIP: This process may be slightly different for older cars. If you discover that the vehicle has a single starter wire (as opposed to a pair), you'll want to disconnect and handle the wire in the same fashion mentioned above. However, to start the car the starter wire must come in contact with the connected power wires. Once the engine has started, remove the starter wire from the circuit and cover its exposed tip.

Things to consider

• This is illegal if you don'