Jump Leads

highguyuk

Hey,

Just wondered if anyone knew anything about using Jump leads, or could point me to the direct of a site with advice?

Dont want to pay to use a garage, and my mums little panda needs a boost...well, a little more than a boost to be fair. Its dead.

Does it matter my car is a 1.6 and hers is a 1.0?

Advice Appreciated
Regards,
Sean

skiddy2k

it doesnt matter if your car is a 1.6 and your mums car is 1.0.

it would only matter if your 1.6 needed a boost, by using your mums 1.0 car. the 1.0l car will struggle to have enough juice init to turn over your engine!

but, luckily, its not the case!

Skiddy,

highguyuk

I seen two conflicting pieces of advice.

One to connect pos to pos, neg to neg
Another to connect pos to pos, neg to metal bolt (basically an earth)

Which is correct?

bestyman

highguyuk wrote:

I seen two conflicting pieces of advice.

One to connect pos to pos, neg to neg
Another to connect pos to pos, neg to metal bolt (basically an earth)

Which is correct?

Halfords link is here

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10651&storeId=10001&langId=-1&productId=170834&p1=38270&p2=38278

I think ( any only think) that the reason for connecting to earth and not the neg terminal is that any sparks are away from the battery thus avoiding risk of explosion.

When ever I have jump started a car I have connected battery to battery and in random order as long as its pos to pos neg to neg always without problem.

Before I get told off Im very sorry and promise to do it properly in the future.

Be

urbanfrit

Beware when jump starting as it can all go horribly wrong.
See this article in the Telegraph.
(Also contains tips from the AA on the correct procedure.)

trigger_mike

Right connet the Red (postive) Lead to the Postive terminal (+ sign) and Black (Negative) lead to the Negative (-) Terminal on the battery, don't let cable ends touch as this can cause a spark and short out,
Let the car used for jumping to run for 30secs - 1 Minute to help get a bit of a boost in the battery then start the other car, if it fails to start then the batterys to far gone and need replacing. hope this help.

RightRevBod

As a golden rule: Always connect the positive (+) lead first, and disconnect last. (This is assuming a negative earth car, which is probably a fairly safe assumption these days).

This is for very good saftly reasons, which I can go into if you like.

However, if the battery is completely dead and the car is at home (I assume that it is as you have the time to check on here), then it would probably be worth taking the battery off and giving it a charge with a battery charger.

If you do not have a battery charger (they are useful to have around, and do not need to be expensive) then a good motor factors, or a friendly garage should be able to charge it for you and test it to make sure that it will hold charge.

If you are not able / do not want to remove the battery, then it might be worth buying a charge-and-start unit. This is a plastic thing (often yellow) containing a battery, charger, jump-leads and sometimes torch and tyre inflater. Going rate is about £30 http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&criteria=start%20and%20charge&ModuleNo=37385&doy=9m1

If you do decide to just go with jumpleads, remember positive on first and off last. Also leave the two cars connected for a few minutes with your engine running before you try to start the other car.

vansboy

It's so easy to do this WRONGLY, these days!!

So many vehicles have electrical components which are easily damaged, by power surges, when jump starting, it's really NOT a good idea!!

Also, you can cause misfires, through the exhaust & damage/destry the exhast catalyst.

Better to get the battery replaced/charged & avoid a lot of potential £$£$£

VB

misterthrifty

That's a 1L Fiat Panda that's stuffed with electrical components and and exhaust catalyst then? :rolleyes:

I think it's worth the risk........another thing, make sure the cars aren't touching!

vansboy

misterthrifty wrote:

That's a 1L Fiat Panda that's stuffed with electrical components and and exhaust catalyst then? :rolleyes:

I think it's worth the risk........another thing, make sure the cars aren't touching!

I was speaking generally, but certainly it's got the catalyst & we don't know what Seans car is - the not touching, point, is certainly worth remembering!!

VB

highguyuk

My car is a lovely 1.6 306 Peugeot.

All sorted now. Cant believe the variety of advice from websites. Halfords, AA, others website all have different techniques and advice. Surely thought they would be singing from the same hymn book.