somhairle Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I was wondering how safe it is to use jumper leads now to start a car with a flat battery. Last night my son's Megane died on him and I ran out with my Mondeo 2.0 TDCi. I have avoided using jump leads since the introduction of electronic control units and other sophisticated electronic chips in case a surge damages these. However, I am not sure if I am worrying unnecessarily? I am not bothered about the Megane frying, but I would rather not lose my Mondeo. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick85 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Has any the cars got sensor on battery terminal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgen Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 As long as you use them correctly and don't short them out you should be fine, there is a correct method of using them but not many do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somhairle Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 As long as you use them correctly and don't short them out you should be fine, there is a correct method of using them but not many do. Many thanks. I assume that that method is the one described in the owner's manual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preee Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 mr AA man told me. + to + Connect Earth to Earth chassis , do not start the Donor car , start car with flat battery , allow to tick over for about 5 mintes do not rev. Stop the car remove the leads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeebowhite Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Similar to Pree, although I was told to rev the car a little before you try to jump start, and keep the revs up to about 2k when you try to start the donor vehicle. Leave both vehicles to run, remove positive from dead car, then from donor car, making 120% sure not to touch any body or anything with the jumpers, then remove the negatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preee Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Jeeb , when i questioned the AA guy he said with the other car Donor car running , removing the jumper leads while running can cause it to Spike and damage the ECU. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wase16ll Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 safest way of doing it is with a slave battery, so if any doubt disconnect the earth lead on donor car... (not forgetting issues with radio codes etc) connect the earth lead last and disconnect first worth the extra money for decent leads...cheap ones arent worth it and often fail/cause problems modern cars can be very sensitive and although the chances of a problem are slim and rare..it does happen AA wrote off a fiat by jump starting a few years back, caused a spike and blew the immobiliser,system which meant new system and complete set of locks needed...was an old motor and wasnt worth the repair...but an eg of what can happen.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/breakdown_advice/using-jumpleads.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeebowhite Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Thanks Paul, Its odd as I had the RAC talk me through that process before when they came to my aid in the last Focus... I suppose each recovery person will have their own ways of doing things, rightly or wrongly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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