Does jump starting your car damage the electronics/computer in your car?

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Does jump starting your car damage the electronics/computer in your car?

If it's done correctly, no. It's no different than adding a good battery. Once the car is running, the "good battery" is removed, leaving the car running on it's own, with the alternator providing adequate voltage and the car's battery being charged up to a good state.

For some reason, it is not uncommon for careless people to hook up the cables backwards, and this of course can cause issues.

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Does jump starting your car damage the electronics/computer in your car?

If it's done correctly, no. It's no different than adding a good battery. Once the car is running, the "good battery" is removed, leaving the car running on it's own, with the alternator providing adequate voltage and the car's battery being charged up to a good state.

For some reason, it is not uncommon for careless people to hook up the cables backwards, and this of course can cause issues.

Very important to know how to jump start the specific car you're trying to jump start. These days some of them have specific instructions and the sensitive electronics can be damaged if you do it wrong.

There's a specific order. If this is done correctly, it's fine. If done out of order, or hooked up backwards, it can hurt electronics.

1) Red cable to dead car's red/positive terminal
2) Red cable to good car's red/positive terminal
3) Black cable to good car's black/negative terminal
4) Black cable to dead car's bare metal chassis
5) Start good car, wait a minute, start dead car.
6) Remove cables in reverse order of connection (black from chassis, black from good battery, red from good battery, red from dead battery).

Make sure you keep the red and black cables from touching while connected.

I think voltage spikes are the concern. Better if you use a battery pack. If having to jump car to car, connect the cables with both cars off. Start car providing jump and then try starting the dead car.

Done properly, there should be no issues. Hooking up jumper cables (not a proper jump box which has polarity protection) backwards can wreak all kinds of havoc. It is not really a good idea to have the donor car running either; this over-stresses the charging system.

I miss being able to pop start a car with a manual transmission.

Way back when when I was young and had no money, I had an old Honda CRX that I used to park at the top of a hill because it had a bad starter but I could roll that thing down and pop the clutch and fire it up. Did that for weeks until I had the money to be able to get that fixed.

Not to hi-jack your thread, ZSMICHAEL (apologies), but piggy-backing of jump starting a car...

In the opinion of those here, what is the best portable jump starter available? Would like to spend no more than $200 max. Want to keep it in my Venza for "just in case", as that's the vehicle I use for road trips. My trusted buddy recommended a DeWalt model, but it got pretty bad reviews on Home Depot. Thanks!

^^^IMO, this one: The NOCO Boost X GBX45 1250A Lithium Jump Starter/Booster Pack --> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924V8SPC

As others have said, if done properly no damage to electronics.

I will say that it's not a good sign as far as your battery. Car batteries are not deep cycle and don't bounce back well from being discharged too low.

Some buddies and I were discussing this a few weeks back and every time we had to jump the battery it wasn't long for this world. Even the most seemingly benign reason for needing to jump it we all experienced the battery going toes up a few weeks later.

Thanks!

So, I've used the excuse, "My electrical system is real fragile and I've had problems with it" to get out of giving losers in remote parking lots jump starts.

Case in point: Lots of crime occurs along the remote hiking trails-heads near me. Lots of broken glass in the parking lots from busted out windows etc.

Was coming off a trail and some loser approaches me and says, "can you give me a jump?" he had jumper cables in hand, and some shitty old suburban parked close to me. About 4 other losers with him. He's walking towards me closing in fast.

I said, "No man, my electrical system sucks and I was told never to try to jump another car."

At time I told the kids to get in the car quickly and we got the hell out of there. Meanwhile Mr. Jumper cables is walking toward us still trying to engage us in conversation.

I took a right turn out of the lot because it was quicker than making the left and I just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

I turn around no more than a half mile up, and pass by the trailhead lot again. Mr Jumper cables and his shitty suburban was freaking GONE. Obviously he didn't need a jump, so what did he need??? I'll never know. I told a cop friend about this, and he said, the problem with that area is the troopers and deputies are about 30 minutes away, if you're lucky.

So, while other posters correct that damage should not result, I've used that excuse before and will likely do so in the future.

Or… My son has a learners permit and my truck is a manual trans. I recently showed him pop starting the truck on a hill or with a push from some friends or even solo and his head about exploded. We always called it “pop starting” but basically pushing it in neutral with key on and then dropping it into a gear.

quote:

Originally posted by bdylan:
I think voltage spikes are the concern. Better if you use a battery pack.

Yep...This

Back in early 1980s I guy older than me at time needed a jump in a parking lot. So I gave him a jump. When it started the moron floored the gas pedal before I could get the jumper cables off! Got back in my pickup the red alternator light was on. That moron cost me an alternator. i couldn't imagine what that would have done to electronics in today's vehicles.

Was only 40 feet away when a battery being jumped exploded when the dude hooked the cables direct to the battery... He had the right polarity. Assumption was, it was hydrogen gas emitted from the battery.
BOOM! like a stick of dynamite.

He was an employee of ours but thankfully off the clock and connecting his own vehicle with a good battery to another car with a dead battery. Dude got a face full of acid and was deaf for several minutes.

I grabbed a hose pipe and immediately hosed him down really really well with water, he had no lasting injuries, luckily, he wore glasses and that protected his eyes. He had to buy a new battery, old one was in pieces.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
^^^IMO, this one: The NOCO Boost X GBX45 1250A Lithium Jump Starter/Booster Pack --> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924V8SPC

I’ll second this recommendation …. I’ve had mine for years and has been a life saver … especially when you have a dead car and can’t maneuver another car close enough to use conventional cables

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
^^^IMO, this one: The NOCO Boost X GBX45 1250A Lithium Jump Starter/Booster Pack --> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924V8SPC

Seconded. Or..,third-ed. I have a NOCO jump pack and it's fantastic. I've used it twice, though neither time on my own car.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:

In the opinion of those here, what is the best portable jump starter available? Would like to spend no more than $200 max.

NOCO 40, you can find it onm Amazon for less than half of your stated budget, will do a fine job.

A SIGforum member had a different jump box, tried to start my GMC 3500 (5.3L? 5.7L?) V-8, nope, didn't work. I brought my NOCO 40, started the truck almost instantly. Your Venza engine is tiny compared to the 3500 truck engine.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:

In the opinion of those here, what is the best portable jump starter available? Would like to spend no more than $200 max.

NOCO 40, you can find it onm Amazon for less than half of your stated budget, will do a fine job.

A SIGforum member had a different jump box, tried to start my GMC 3500 (5.3L? 5.7L?) V-8, nope, didn't work. I brought my NOCO 40, started the truck almost instantly. Your Venza engine is tiny compared to the 3500 truck engine.

I guess I just have crap luck. My GB40 was unable to jump start a 2.4l Honda. Battery was not completely dead just low. Jump started it from another car, all good.

I now have these in my cars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H...aWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

Just last night I had to jump start my daughters highlander 3.5l with completely dead battery

Hook up leads, turn key, fired right up.

The Gooloo also holds a charge. After 12 months in my trunk was still at 4 bars.

My neighbor is an FBI agent. He got a new half ton unmarked pickup for work. It has more electronics in it than you can imagine - from lights & sirens to computers & satellite phones. Something would drain the battery dead when it sat over the weekend. I used my 2000 amp Audew battery pack a couple of times to help him. I was concerned about all the electronics, plus it had some black box on the engine that said "48 v". I made him hook it up, but it started right up both times.

The 3rd time it happened, I was busy so I just told him to get the battery pack from my truck and do it himself. He brought the Audew back split in half - said he hooked it up right and I believe him. No idea what happened. Thankfully no damage to anything in the truck.