Jump start a car

[joker_927]

All the directions I read state to connect the - cable on the dead car's side to the engine block.

Yet whenever I see actual people doing it, they just connect it to the battery, not the engine block.

Which way is right?

And have you heard of turning the charging car OFF before you try to start the dead car? Someone told me that the act of trying to start the dead car while still connected can burn up the charging car's alternator.

Thanks so much.

[Cyclone2]

I assume the proper way is to connect the positive cables to the batteries first and then the ground to the alternater housing or whatever so that any spark produced is away from the battery preventing a possible fatal explosion

Saw a Mack truck battery blow up and covered the poor guy with battery acid one day- luckily we hosed him down good and he did not get any into his eyes

[electric]

"And have you heard of turning the charging car OFF before you try to start the dead car? Someone told me that the act of trying to start the dead car while still connected can burn up the charging car's alternator."

that is correct

[samwichse]

I dunno, my car's both light, and a stick shift = just give it a good push and pop it into gear .

And the reason you're not supposed to hook the negative to the negative pole of the battery is for fear of sparks setting of the H2 that comes off the battery.

You hook the positive up first, then the negative to a ground on the chassis where the H2 is way to diffuse to be able to explode.

[Sweeper]

The're are several myths and beliefs about the correct way to start and car. Really.... I haven't seen anything regarding blowing up this or that. I've been at it for 9+ yrs. ASE Certified. The way I go about it is to hook the car that is going to jump start to the battery and the other car to the positive on the battery and the vehicles ground (alternator housing, block, etc.).

[John Prophet]

Ive done it both ways..hooked neg to battery and to block etc.

Also, keep in mind that thousands of people use jumper cables..and they have no clue how to use them...they hook this to that and the other to this etc etc...every combination.

And I have always tried to start the dead car after a minute or so of letting it charge...while the running car is still connected etc...it does load the running car down some.

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by John Prophet
I have always tried to start the dead car after a minute or so of letting it charge...while the running car is still connected

That is a big no-no. Doing that will just kill your alternator, as said before.

Doing it with 2 small cars might not be so bad, but don't try that with a big truck or van which has a very powerful alternator.

[John Prophet]

I started a mack truck off my tercel once...I wondered why on the radio that Olivia Newton John's voice sounded like Darth Vader for a second or two.

[Brainchild]

Well I have done it either way and haven't had any problem other than having a short in a starter,and frying the ECM

But just to jump a dead battery I've had no problems.

[RedFury]

Always wondered what the deal was when jumping a car. I think that for the most part, the batter blowing up/fried alternator-ECM is a bit of a myth to keep stupid people from trying to jump other peoples cars

The biggest problem I run into is trying to get a good connection and get that darn other car to start. I've come to the conclusion that you either need really good cables, or that you just can't get a good enough of a connection to get a car started without sitting there for a couple of minutes.

Oh, and as far as not running the engine while jumping....good luck finding a Minnesotan that's going to shut off their source of heat on that cold as H-E-L-L day when the poor souls car won't start. You'll find 2 complete strangers sharing the tight spaces of a small pickup truck on a day like that.