Jump Starting Another Car,Is It Safe To?

tonycarew

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or do I run the risk of damaging the battery or any other part of my vehicles (a 08 Vectra) electrical system.

Thanks in advance.

Tony

pitkin2020

id say it was ok for you to jump start someone else, but some cars being jump started especially heavily loaded cars with all the gadgets etc dont always like to be jumped and can mess up the electrics

gilbert_and_sullivan

Not as simple as it once was, a mate of my blew the electronic dash in his Laguna when he sump started someone and the leads were correct, you could probably do it hundreds of times without incident, but there's always the possibility of a hiccup.

I keep a fully charged jump pack in the garage for such possibilities.

pitkin2020

you could also refer to your manual it should state it a definete no no if its not to be done

mchale

tonycarew wrote: »

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or do I run the risk of damaging the battery or any other part of my vehicles (a 08 Vectra) electrical system.

Thanks in advance.

Tony

No, remove keys from dead car, with engine running on live car, connect the pos jump lead 1st, then the neg (always connect neg lead last), leave cars connected for a least 5/10 mins before attempting to start dead car,

you should do no damage using the above method.

rusty-london

mchale wrote: »

No, remove keys from dead car, with engine running on live car, connect the pos jump lead 1st, then the neg (always connect neg lead last), leave cars connected for a least 5/10 mins before attempting to start dead car,

you should do no damage using the above method.

And also when you're trying to start the dead car, switch the lights and heater blowers on full as this can stop the potential voltage spike which can cause the damage to the electrics.

jamesb1239

Switch everything of in the dead car, then connect positive to positive and negative on the donor car to a patch of bare metal in the engine bay NOT the negative terminal of the battery, then start the donor car, put the revs on a bit and attempt to start the dead car. Then leave dead car running for a bit but disconnect the jump leads.

I think the connecting the negative lead to the chassis is something to do with the fuses in the car and power surges, not sure though, maybe someone can clarify that.

molerat

It is not worth the risk of starting another car from any modern electronically dependant car. Most will prohibit it in the handbook. You will possibly get away with it if you decide to do it but if it all goes wrong you could be in for a bill running into £K's.

Connecting the -ve lead to the engine / chassis is to prevent a spark at the battery where explosive gasses are being produced.

hewhoisnotintheknow

Ive literally started hundred of cars with my current car, and thats been fine

however ive heard horror stories about having your car jumped

If its possible i would try to push it or charge it manually

thescouselander

molerat wrote: »

It is not worth the risk of starting another car from any modern electronically dependant car. Most will prohibit it in the handbook. You will possibly get away with it if you decide to do it but if it all goes wrong you could be in for a bill running into £K's.

Connecting the -ve lead to the engine / chassis is to prevent a spark at the battery where explosive gasses are being produced.

It shouldn't be any more risky to jump start a car than it is connecting a new battery.

Connecting the negative cable first would have the further advantage of providing a common earth bringing the two car bodies down to the same potential. In theory the potential difference between the the dead car and the donor car could be very high - this could cause problems with sensitive electronics if you get a discharge of static electricity via the +ve lead when it is connected. If the car bodies are connected via the -ve leads first this risk goes away.

Just remember to connect the -ve lead first and make sure it is a good connection then everything should be fine.

maninthestreet

thescouselander wrote: »

It shouldn't be any more risky to jump start a car than it is connecting a new battery.

Connecting the negative cable first would have the further advantage of providing a common earth bringing the two car bodies down to the same potential. In theory the potential difference between the the dead car and the donor car could be very high - this could cause problems with sensitive electronics if you get a discharge of static electricity via the +ve lead when it is connected. If the car bodies are connected via the -ve leads first this risk goes away.

Just remember to connect the -ve lead first and make sure it is a good connection then everything should be fine.

It's no longer that simple or straightforward with modern cars. Some cars cannot be jump-started without causing damage to their electronic systems. Before attempting to jump-start any vehicle, first check the handbook for both cars involved to see if they state the cars can be jump-started.