Jump starting other vehicles

Johnmed · #1 7th December 2015, 10:36 PM

Hi all. Last summer I tried to jump start a lawnmower in France (as you do), with no luck. And today I tried to jump a friend's Qashqai thing. I wasn't expecting it to work, and it didn't! I had to tow her car to start it. She'd not done that before, so it wasn't as easy as you'd expect. But hers being a manual at least that option was available.

It got me thinking about if the D3 could jump start another car. I know the complex power management and the steel bar on the - terminal of the battery complicate things.

So, is it possible?

paulrstaylor · #2 7th December 2015, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnmed

Hi all. Last summer I tried to jump start a lawnmower in France (as you do), with no luck. And today I tried to jump a friend's Qashqai thing. I wasn't expecting it to work, and it didn't! I had to tow her car to start it. She'd not done that before, so it wasn't as easy as you'd expect. But hers being a manual at least that option was available.

It got me thinking about if the D3 could jump start another car. I know the complex power management and the steel bar on the - terminal of the battery complicate things.

So, is it possible?

Yes - Positive to the battery, neg to the big metal post, used to do it loads in my D3

In the D4 you have a +ive and -ive terminal under the bonnet, although the battery is in the boot under the spare wheel! Works just the same

Johnmed · #3 7th December 2015, 10:56 PM

I wonder why mine isn't kicking out enough juice then? I have tried two different sets of jump leads.

I've had better luck when jumping the D3 itself, after flattening the battery with VCDS (you live and learn).

Delboy · #4 8th December 2015, 12:05 AM

I haven't read the manual about giving a jump but i suspect the battery managers diodes are preventing it from working properly, is it not the case of receiving a jump or charging it goes to the post, giving a jump is direct on the battery posts engine running preferably?

Defo read the manual though as i could be wrong

Adrian E · #5 8th December 2015, 07:05 AM

Also note that tow starting a modern manual is not recommended - it results in a lot of unburnt fuel in the catalytic converter which can damage it (assuming it's petrol!)

The usual barrier to a successful jump start is decent thickness wires. I've used my S8 to jump start a Rover 220 which was pretty straightforward, but if the car has a chunky motor or is a diesel it needs a really good battery and thick cable

Johnmed · #6 8th December 2015, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian E

Also note that tow starting a modern manual is not recommended - it results in a lot of unburnt fuel in the catalytic converter which can damage it (assuming it's petrol!)

The usual barrier to a successful jump start is decent thickness wires. I've used my S8 to jump start a Rover 220 which was pretty straightforward, but if the car has a chunky motor or is a diesel it needs a really good battery and thick cable

I didn't know that about tow starting a modern petrol. Thanks. I used my leads and my friend's. Both have worked to start her car and the D3 previously.