|
|
Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
| |
|
|
pharmy
Novice
May 11, 2013, 12:37 PM
Post #1 of 7
(1258 views)
|
Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
I have an unusual problem. I am donating an old Dodge Intrepid (2000 I think) and the charity we're donating to has to have the mileage on the car before they send a tow truck over. The car was driven by my son for a couple of years and when it stopped running he parked it in his apartment complex lot where there's no way for me to reach the engine with jumper cables (kids!).
My question is can I take a known good battery completely out of one of my other vehicles, bring it over to where the dead car is parked and connect the good battery to the bad battery using jumper cables, and then read the mileage on the Intrepid?
Note that this Intrepid has a battery that is buried deep next to the right wheel well and I am NOT going to go to the trouble of swapping the good battery for the bad battery due to all the trouble reaching the battery compartment. I'm hoping to just set the battery on dry pavement, hook the cables up to the posts located on top of the engine area, and then read the mileage on the Intrepid.
I know this is a lot to read for such a small problem, but I do appreciate your time and effort in helping. Thanks.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 11, 2013, 12:51 PM
Post #2 of 7
(1254 views)
|
|
Re: Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
No question is too small .
I don't see why you couldn't use jumper cables and an external battery to power up the electrical system to read the odo.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on May 11, 2013, 12:57 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
pharmy
Novice
May 11, 2013, 2:03 PM
Post #3 of 7
(1227 views)
|
|
Re: Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
LOL, that was a little long winded, no?
I'll give it a try later tonight or tomorrow and let you know if either of the batteries blew up or anything.
Thanks
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 11, 2013, 2:57 PM
Post #4 of 7
(1218 views)
|
|
Re: Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
I had to do that with a known good HD car battery I keep on my bench for playing with stuff. BLIZZARDS of last Winter sooked of course. Had to jump a car, bow into snowbank w a car beside it. Couldn't reach with cables and jumper box not strong enough - used that car battery which is kept on trickle charge with snow up my arse climbed in and it worked.
You might (slight maybe) get just the mileage to read back feeding a power port with common 9V battery which is also a tool to save memory in a car when disconnecting a battery. No extra anything on or a 9V would never do, - T
|
|
| |
|
|
nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
May 11, 2013, 2:58 PM
Post #5 of 7
(1215 views)
|
|
Re: Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
You're basically doing the same thing as using a booster pack. Its not going to hurt anything as long as you don't get the polarity reversed.
|
|
| |
|
|
pharmy
Novice
May 12, 2013, 9:10 AM
Post #6 of 7
(1171 views)
|
|
Re: Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
Mission accomplished. Not only got the odometer reading, but managed to get the engine to turn over a few times.
Thanks for the helpful info y'all. This is a nice forum you have here. I'm sure I'll use it in the future. I'm bookmarking it.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 12, 2013, 9:33 AM
Post #7 of 7
(1170 views)
|
|
Re: Need to power up car just to see mileage
|
|
|
Thanks for the follow-up and good for you for donating a car to charity. I'll lock the thread to keep you from spammers and it cannbe re-opened upon request if needed or wanted,
Tom
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
Howdy
