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jump start donor car dead


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jackwashere
New User

Jan 10, 2013, 3:39 PM

Post #1 of 5 (1605 views)
jump start donor car dead Sign In

Used my 1991 Toyota pickup to jump start another car. Made the mistake of turning engine off while connecting up the jumper cables. When I tried to turn on the Toyota pickup the electronics were dead. By dead I mean I turn the key on and nothing, no lights on the dashboard, no radio, no fan, no response when I try to start it. What is the method for fixing this?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 10, 2013, 3:57 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1594 views)
Re: jump start donor car dead Sign In

Find out what the reason is first. Start out by testing your battery and all your fuses.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Jan 10, 2013, 5:14 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1549 views)
Re: jump start donor car dead Sign In

I personally don't like jumping another vehicle using the jumper cable method unless it is an extreme emergency. With the engine running on the good vehicle it puts a huge load on the alternator, especially when they go cranking on the dead vehicle with a tired starter that is pulling more amps than it is supposed to. I don't recommend using your expensive BMW with a $400 alternator jumping someone else off.

Max amp output on a Toyota PU alternator is around 60 amps. With the alternator running at full tilt trying to charge the dead battery and power your electrical system at the same time, it might just give up and go to alternator heaven. If you have ever replaced an alternator, the manufacture or rebuilder usually puts paper work in the box warning you to be sure the battery is good and fully charged to give the alternator a chance of a long and happy life before firing up the engine. I've watched a new alternator burn up and die because the battery wasn't fully charged, so they aren't BSing.

Better to use a jumper pack if you want to play AAA.





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(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jan 10, 2013, 5:56 PM)


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
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Jan 10, 2013, 8:17 PM

Post #4 of 5 (1526 views)
Re: jump start donor car dead Sign In

You have some good advise already on what to look for...

I'm just going to add a little footnote for "next time"

DS brings up some real good points about damaging the alternator, which can happen but with the addition of computers on cars today there is also the risk of damaging modules with these spikes in current....

If you have to jump start someone the best way to do it, is have both cars off....Hook the cables up to the vehicles, start your car with the other car off, run yours for a few minutes to boost the dead battery and then shut your car completely off and then try to start the dead car.....If it doesn't start right away....you can turn the dead car off & try boosting the battery a little more by running yours and try again...You can leave the cables hooked up while trying to start the car but it's very important that your car is shut completely off while the dead vehicle is trying to start..

The problem when your car is running is that big spike DS is talking about.....it can travel from the dead car, thru the cables to your car and if your battery can't absorb the whole spike, then it travels into your system and bad things can happen.....

This is the exception....not the rule.....guys will tell you they jump cars hundreds of times with no problem....and I'm sure they are right.....But all it takes is one time to do hundreds of dollars of damage.......Their car is running...yours won't start now and all you get is.....Man thanks a ton for the jump...I hope things work out ok for you.....


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 11, 2013, 12:35 AM

Post #5 of 5 (1513 views)
Re: jump start donor car dead Sign In

With you DS - The "Jump Start" game with cables is about over. Yes, some of us still will but knowing more about the situation. Jumper pack or tow the vehicle to find out what is really wrong.

Said many times and warning to others that if a battery is really that dead it might even work but you are also really stressing out charging systems on both.

In general folks, diagnose why. You may know a light was left on - fine, so use a charger not the car's system to get it back up. Risks of burning out stuff exceeds the tow if needed,

T






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