When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

[SeaKaye12]

Hi,<br /><br />Maybe it's just me but it seems that with the newer cars and their batteries...using jumper cables won't help in getting started with a bad battery.<br /><br />Two cases in point: My '93 Camry V6 and a friend's Ford F150 4.6L. Both scenarios were the same: The original battery is going bad...resulting in the typical "solenoid click" when attempting a start. In both cases, using jumpers big HD ones...) and a known good battery from a running vehicle alongside made little or no difference. But, again in both cases, replacing the bad batteries provided a complete fix.<br /><br />Why is that? Years ago I never remember having jumper cables not working.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, Chuck

 

[Pascal]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

You likely have either a bad battery post to battery cable connection where your hooking up the cables or the solenoid is bad. Just went thru the solenoid senerio.... <br /><br />JD

 

[tommays]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

IF its a BAD battery VS a DEAD battery there is a big difference<br /><br />And most of the new ones with the bolt on cables are very hard to get a GOOD connection thats going to pass full amps<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Pony]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Have watched my dad attempt to jump his jeep off of my truck to have the same issues you describe, then have it work for me..........<br /><br />In his case the connection of the cables at the battery werent good. Tommays is right, the newer batteries seem to be difficult to get a good enough connection to jump..........but if the connection is good and the jumper car has a good battery it should work. <br /><br />I assume you have the jumper car reving the engine a little as the other car is trying to start?

 

[rwise]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Hmmmm, my new to me car has posts to connect jumper cable to, hope I never have to use them!

 

[ZmOz]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Keep in mind if the battery is really, really dead, you have to let it charge a while before attempting to start. The dead battery sucks up all the amps leaving none for the starter. This can mean letting the jumping vehicle idle for as long as an hour while hooked to the dead vehicle.<br /><br />A few days ago I tried to jump my truck with a 2400 amp rated AGM battery. It just clicked. I charged the truck's battery for a few hours, still too dead to start on it's own, but now I could jump start it.

 

[Copespitter]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

I've always had problems with batteries that have side posts. There's nothing to grab onto and besides they always seem to eventually strip out.<br />Go with the top posts and I doubt you will ever have a problem.

 

[PierBridge]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Originally posted by Copespitter:<br /> I've always had problems with batteries that have side posts. There's nothing to grab onto and besides they always seem to eventually strip out.<br />Go with the top posts and I doubt you will ever have a problem.

Nothing but DT's "dual terminals" for me side post suck for jumping other people.

 

[Realgun]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Ground on dead vehicle hooked up last, to engine not battery.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Cheap jumper cables act the same way. A huge difference in performance of cheap vs expensive cables. Also if you have corroded connections on the host battery, the best cables and biggest charging battery will do you no good,

 

[Mark42]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Originally posted by Realgun:<br /> Ground on dead vehicle hooked up last, to engine not battery.

Realgun hit it on the nose. The car with the dead battery does not get the negative jumper cable connected to the battery. The negative jumper cable goes directly to ground on the motor (like an accessory bracket).<br /><br />The reason being is if both the good battery and bad battery are connected directly together, the car with the dead battery is not getting enough voltage/amperage to the starter because a lot of it is going right in and out of the dead battery, and not throught the starter motor. Connecting to positive and motor on dead battery car eliminates that problem.

 

[tommays]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Well your suppose to use the engine block to avoide makeing sparks near the battery and exploding the battery fumes <br /><br /><br />(most battery explosions happpen from makeing unsafe connections resulting in sparks ,like disconecting a charger while its still pluged in)<br /><br />The ground cable is hooked to the block and the current will still get to the battery just the same <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[ztim]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

I never had a solenoid clicking when the battery needed a boost. Just a bad solenoid.<br /><br />Please help on this one. I don't get it.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Ztim, if the battery isn't strong enough to activate the starter, you'll hear the solinoid click, meaning it's making the connection (Hey I'm doing my job, it's the starter's fault!!) but nothing else. You usually don't hear the click because it's immediately drowned out by the starter motor.

 

[ztim]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

Thanks! I would have never guessed it.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: When Jumper Cables won't work...why?

I can't believe the jumper cables they sell in some stores.... what are they 14 gauge? ...<br /><br />Good heavy cables, at least double the size of the cables on the car. Then a good booster vehicle with the engine OFF!!! (that one kills me when people are revving the engine like a lunatic on the booster car)<br /><br />Red to Red, Black to Block. <br /><br />Never failed me yet.