Is there any danger
to me or my vehicle if I give someone a "jump
start"?
Yes. The danger to you is a battery explosion.
Batteries contain hydrogen gas, which can ignite
and explode if a spark occurs anywhere near the
battery. Batteries also contain acid which may
be splashed on you if the battery explodes.
The danger to your vehicle is if someone reverses
the jumper connections or touches the jumper cables
together. The voltage surge that results may damage
your charging system and/or other electronic components
in your vehicle.
To minimize these risks, use the following procedure
when jump :
- Do not smoke. You should also wear eye protection.
- Make sure the vehicles are not touching (contact
could provide an unwanted electrical path).
- Turn your engine off.
- Connect the red jumper
cable from the positive (+) post or terminal on
your "good" battery to the positive post or terminal
on the low or dead battery in the other vehicle.
- Connect the black jumper cable from the negative
(-) post or terminal on your good battery to a
solid ground on the other vehicle.
CAUTION: DO
NOT make the final jumper connection directly
to the low or dead battery itself.
The reason
for not doing this is because the final jumper
connection usually produces a spark. Making the
final connection away from the battery will minimize
any danger of an explosion by keeping the spark
well away from the battery.
- Make sure the ground
connection on the vehicle with the low or dead
battery provides a good electrical contact. Use
an unpainted metal surface like an engine bracket
or a frame member.
- Make sure the cables do not
touch each other and that the cables are clear
of the fan and pulleys on both vehicles.
- Start
the engine in the vehicle with the good battery.
Run the engine at fast idle for several minutes
before attempting to start the vehicle with the
low or dead battery. This will allow the charging
system to pump some life into the other battery
lessening the drain on the good battery and charging
system.
- As soon as the vehicle with the dead
battery starts, disconnect the battery cables.
The vehicle should then be run or driven at least
thirty minutes to recharge the low or dead battery.
Additional charging time may be required depending
on the battery's condition and state of charge.
If the vehicle does not crank or cranks slowly,
recheck the jumper connections. If it still doesn't
crank, the problem may be something other then
the battery (such as a bad starter, solenoid,
battery cable connection or internal engine problem).
If the vehicle cranks normally, but refuses to
start, it may have an ignition, fuel or mechanical
problem.
Do not crank the starter more than thirty
seconds at a stretch. Allow the starter to cool
for about two minutes before cranking the engine
again. Continuous grinding of the starter can
cause it to overheat and fail. Continuous cranking
can also sap the juice out of your good battery
and/or overload and possibly damage your charging
system, too!
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