The Dangers of Jump Starting

[+Steve]

Today I nearly seriously broke the car.

Being used to old bangers and stuff I tried to Jump start my mates car... It was'nt until the RAC man said that I might have screwed it up on the ECU that i panicked.

But luckily the car started ok... close call.

[sholao]

Do mean just by connecting jump leads to the Battery you can cause damage?

Please explain, as I did use my car to jump start a bangar this weekend, my car was okay, but if it will cause damage, then i won't be doing that again.

[+Steve]

Well the RAC man was concerned... even though i was with the AA LOL

Anyway.. I did think about it when i was doing it... but thought it would prolly be ok

Will not be doing it again!

[troad]

How can thia damage a car ? with a jump

start.

[Monster-Mat]

cos you can send a power surge(spike) through the electrical system,damaging the ECU

[homerj]

It's the high frequency energy in that little when you make the last connection that is the lil' *****. It can confuse some of the switching regulators and cause 20+V to appear on the IC's in the control unit (and other IC's in the car) and fry them.

Also, you're Battery can release hydrogen gas as part of the red-ox reaction to convert chemical energy to electrical energy. The gas can "pocket" itself inside the engine compartment and the spark and ignite it. That's why even in the old days, the proceduce was to connect the final wire (ground) to a metal part AWAY from the Battery.

Incidentally, on cars with computers, you can fry either or both car's computers by jumping them.

[homerj]

Man, I need to check my grammar and spelling before hitting that send button!!!