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Re: portable jump starters

Yesterday when my alternator gave out I pulled out my trusted Coleman

>jumpstarter and it turned the engine for about five seconds and quit. >Paid $70 for the thing and it will only pump up my tires. Don't buy >it, it's crap. > >Is there a better make that works reliably? It's always so hard to >find anybody who will give you a jump, so I thought I had that problem >licked. > >Also, I once on a different car I put two batteries under the hood, >one on each side. The alternator charged both. Was this a good or >bad idea? It worked great. When the spare was charged I disconnected >it and had it there to jump from in an emergency. > >voice from the past >

I jan 2002, Consumer Reports did an article on these items. They didn't test the Coleman. They rated the Booster Pack J900 as "Excellent" Two batteries are handy if you have intermittent heavy loads, like an electric winch, large compressor, or a welder. They are also handy for campers, where you can run all your lights and stuff off one large deep cycle battery, and save the starting battery for the vehicle. Otherwise, it's a waste of money and adds a lot of weight to the front end. Remember, once the engine is running the battery has no role in the operation of the vehicle. Power will only be drawn from it if the alternator can't keep up with demand.

Reply to
.boB
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Its getting harded and harder to find people who will give you a boost. The dealers are telling people not to boost any car with theirs and people are listening.

I left the lights on in my car one night while i was out with friends (d'OH!) and the battery barely had enough to turn the engine let alone start it. It took me 15 mintues to convince my friend and his girl friend that I wouldn't blow his car up. On the newer cars I actually disconnect the battery to protect the computer (not that I've ever had problems before, just extra insurance) so the worst that would happen is that he had to reset his radio stations. They still were unsure though...I couldn't believe how much I had to do to reassure them that once the battery was diconnected the car was 100% safe.

oh well least I got home.

Kirk

Reply to
Mulatz

Actually, the battery acts as a filter for the electricity from the alternator. The battery is what keeps it at 12 volts.

-Mistercmk

Reply to
Mistercmk

That's the job of the voltage regulator, to keep the voltage between 13-14 volts. Once the engine is running, you can remove the battery and the engine will run fine.

Reply to
.boB

Get a nice 800+CCA battery :) I bought Walmart's best one (1000CCA i think, or was it 900CCA...) anyways, this is for a 2000 Cherokee 4.0, I was at a friend's place, left my headlights on for about 45min to an hour. Got back in turned the key, and on it was. On the mustang on the other hand (factory battery), it takes a few seconds to crank over, WITHOUT leaving lights on. More CCA=more reserve = less chances of it dying out sooner. Gagan

"Excellent"

Reply to
Gagan (mwarrior)

Where the electronics might not like it too much..... I don't care how many anecdotes people have heard about disconnecting the battery to check the charging system..... while it wont *always* fry a module or four, it can and it has happened.

Similarly, jump starting can be a problem with voltage spikes and, now, PCM controlled charging systems. On many systems, it can take upwards of 40 minutes for all the modules to "go to sleep" and Ford does love multiplexed modules. The PCM, the GEM (multifunction module), the ABS, the fuel pump module, the daytime running light module, the hybrid electronic instrument cluster, the restraints control module and more that I've forgotten.... all of these are hooked to the same two battery terminals that people can fiddle with.

But then... it's not my car and it's not my wallet.....

-- Jim Warman snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net

Reply to
Jim Warman

Don't forget that this will not work at all with a "Bad" battery ( battery becomes a resistor, converting a charge into heat ). I have even had AAA try to jump start my '86 and nothing. Walked over to Wal-Mat bought a new battery and started right up. They do work great for leaving the light on. You can always get a 130 amp alternator and change out the stock 65 amp. But the regulator pack on the back can have a short life span, my local alternator shop changed it out for $25 and no problems since.

Erich,

Reply to
eweinfur

The one I am sold on is the Sears Die Hard Gold---the top of the line. When new you can forget your headlights for two hours and the car will still start. I brought one back to the store one time and they replaced it free, which they will do for three years. In five years the battery finally went bye bye and I still got $35 trade-in for it.

Fantastic experience, but the new one that is half a year old is really dying fast. My girlfriend left the parking lamps on for 20 minutes and it went dead... I took it to charge it and the trusted friend at the car parts store told me that it was a bad battery, that it would only charge to the "yellow" light came on instead of the green one. I took it back to Sears today expecting to have it replaced and the guy said it was still good as new... That's ridiculous, and I will try a different Sears and see if I can find someone to back up the warranty.

That's why I wanted a jumpstarter, and especially all those people with the new cars who think their cars will blow up, and more than that who could never be bothered with someone elses problems. I always help people on the road.

I am going to get in touch with the people who make the jumpstarter for Coleman on Monday and see if I can have it exchanged. It's probably just bad from the factory.

voice from the past

Reply to
voice from the past

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