I've learned just not to run the engine on my vehicle when the dead vehicle is trying to start.... (and especially while connecting the cables in the first place... )

For some reason, I seemed to always lose my alternator a week or so later if I did it that way..

Now, I only hook up the cables with my vehicles engine OFF. I have once cross connected the jumpers on the batteries and figured it out about 10 seconds later and the cables where very hot... I disconnected and let them cool for a minute or two and connected them properly. Then I started my truck and told the dead vehicle to not start yet... I let my truck run for a few minutes then turned it off.

Then I told the dead vehicle to try to start their car.

It started just fine. I then disconnected the jumpers and all was fine..

I have had times where even that didn't work, then I checked the dead vehicles battery connections and they were LOOSE.. I just tightened them up and it started on it's own..

Now that they have those booster pack things, I've been wanting to get one, but just have not done it yet... It's been several years since I've had to jump start anyone, but I still carry jumper cables in my truck.

I'll just never run my truck while they are trying to start their dead rig...

Mitch

 

I don't think any professionals carry cables anymore. Even tow truck drivers use those jump packs. And a lot of people are using the smaller, lighter lithium units.

Just safer to not hook up your car to the car that is not starting.

The hardest part is deciding which one to buy. The Optima RedTop has 800 Cold Cranking Amp. The Ford Motorcraft BXT65850 has 850 CCA. So if your truck is not starting with an 850 CCA battery, you will want your jump start device to be higher than that.

Very inexpensive models can sell for as low as$25. 200 CCA will probably start my motorcycle. It's nowhere near good enough to start a light duty, 1/2 ton truck. For the low price point when they go on sale, this unit is handy to keep in your purse for charging your cell phone. Seller claims that it will jump start an engine up to 2.5L. My Transit Connect has a 2.5L engine, with the OEM Ford BXT40R rated at 590 CCA.



After trying several lithium battery jump starters, and sending them back, I am now using 2 models, from the same brand. Genius Boost. GB40 & GB150.

 

Almost every modern car turns off the headlights and radio as you turn the ignition off, remove the ignition key, and/or lock the doors. You can't leave the lights on all night anymore.

So it may be a while longer before you will jumpstart another car. The only time I see a dead battery these days is when a car hasn't been driven, and it just sits there allowing the battery to drain.

 

this thread is from 2005