I’d ask a dealer mechanic that question. Not so sure thats true with newer vehicles. One way to find out is, start your car, and disconnect the battery and see what happens.
edit… Actually, don’t do that, it’s bad advise. From what I just read, you could damage the ECU, and diodes in the alternator.
I just replaced my 6yo battery. Froze in the cold wx we had a coupla weeks ago, ironically while I was taking my other car back’n’forth to work to charge its battery. Figured the battery was nearing its end-of-life anyway, getting weaker and weaker that it’d function fine under good circumstances but croke when I’d need it most.
Anyhoo, sure, you could jump a dead battery and have the alternator do all the heavy lifting charging it, but it puts a continuous heavy load on the alternator, not just running the car and all its electrojunk, but also trying to top off the cell from zero. Nice way to pop a diode-pack, fry a winding, etc.
On top of that, once the cell gets too depleted, its internal chemistry can get ruined just like running down a Li cell to nothing. Might even end up with a “leaky” battery, that self-discharges over time even with no load, and worse, puts a heavier strain on the alternator possibly taking the alternator down with it.
There are probably ways to test the cell to see its “internal health”, but in general, Pb-acid cells can be ruined if drained too low, even once.
I have decided to replace the battery just to be on the safe side. I looked around and found that Costco sells interstate batteries for far less than anyplace else. I an going to look at all these chargers and see which one I should pick up. Thanks for all the good info.
Btw the vehicle I am trying to start has a 3.8l V-6 engine.
i got a engergizer lithium jumper pack on sale and it started a car that had just died but if the battery is completly dead it wont do much. I wish they were more clear about that on the package. It’s better then nothing but I would rather have the big jumpers that use a lead acid battery even if they weigh a lot. Only benefit to the lithium pack is it keeps a charge forever but the others have to be topped up often.
they all have to be topped off from time to time
actually you can start most cars with the battery disconnected with the one I have
and with the low/dead battery not taking juice from the jumpers, it is easier to start.
then just reconnect the battery and the alternator starts charging it
you might have to reset your clock and my Ram needs to reprogram its brain automatically to my driving habits.
Had no issue starting a 2.0 diesel Audi with a completely dead battery. Ignition lights came on but wouldn’t even attempt to crank
https://www.anker.com/ca/products/variant/car-jump-starter-and-portable-charger-2-in-1/A1314171
This one outputs 200 amps and 400 amps peak.
Considering it’s small (44.4 Wh) it will only help when your car starts well if the battery isn’t flat.
If you usually have to try to get your car started for minutes until it fires up, this pack isn’t sufficient.
It is possible to jump start a car with no battery connected other than a smallish (like 2000mah) 4S lipo. Sure, the lipo won’t like it but it works. Yes, the cables are “thin” but they are also very short.
I work part time at a car auction that moves 7000 used cars (in one sale day) a week. This is the one we use: Clore Booster PAC ES5000 https://www.jumpstarterreviews.org/booster-pac-es5000-jump-starter-review
It will work all day (10 to 15 cars) without a recharge.
Hi Deputy Dog,
I have no doubt that that jump starter willl work, but the size and weight take it out of the range of some women and elderly. The small ones work fine and can be easily carried and handled.
Jerry
How old is elderly? You can’t carry it in a purse, but… I’m 61. Many of the guys and gals using them are 10 to 20 years older than I am. It only weighs 18 pounds.
Edited to add: If you’re not able to lift 18 pounds, how are you going to get the hood up?
There are elderly who can lift much more, but also those who have trouble walking. The small ones can easily be kept in your auto without taking up much room. Let folks take their choice.
I am 86 and had a staph infection in my lumbar spine in 2008, and some days I have trouble walking without a walker. In addition I am now having hip problems. While I can handle the 18 pounds I find it simpler to use a lighter one. I don’t think it takes 18 pounds to lift the hood of my Toyota Sienna, but never had a reason to find out.
I was hunting in the mountains and carrying deer out on a packboard at your age, but it only takes a heartbeat for big changes to occur.
I change my car batteries about every 4 years. I don’t consider it very wise to try to get the last 6 months out of a battery since today you have no warning like the old days. I do the same in the case of tires, especially since I can no longer change a tire.
Regards, Jerry
I got your point the first time. Maybe I should have included, it would be better (for safety reasons) for the disabled (like my wife who needs a walker) to call AAA, instead of trying to jump a car in the first place and save the cost of the jump box.
To each his own, but the jump starter does well for those who have it. Better than waiting sometimes. If the cost is more than one wants to pay AAA is the way to go. When I travelled I always had a jump starter with me, although I never needed it. There were no small ones in those days. Today If I travelledt I would carry the Bolt.
Regards, Jerry
I have used that exact booster to start cars and forklifts that had NO battery of their own. Just clamp onto the cables and it works fine, plenty of power. My local NAPA store carries that model.
I’ve jumped completely dead batteries that were so bad that we had to keep the box hooked up so the car would run long enough to get through the auction, because the battery wouldn’t hold enough charge to even keep the car running after it was started.
They are a bit pricey, but they seem to work much better than the cheaper models. They seem to hold a charge for a long time as well.
[quote=Deputy Dog]
[quote=jigsaw]
That is no problem with a lead-acid battery powered jump starter because that battery can be charged with the alternator in the car without danger of overcharging.
That way it is no problem to use it all day long, just leave it connected for a few minutes when the engine is running, and you will get enough power for the next jump start.
Do not try this with a lithium-ion jump starter, it could be very dangerous (you will hear a warning sound if it is connected when the engine is on).
As some one who comes across stranded motorist on a semi common experience, a few pre broken down pointers. Up grade to the largest battery the self will hold. Many cars/trucks have under sized batteries and all those electrical gadgets are killing them. Next up grade that bigger battery to an AGM, shorted dead cells are nearly impossible to create. They’ll deep cycle hundreds of times. These batteries have huge reserves but need to be sure it’s got the needed cold cranking amps. These batteries have a 5-8 year life and are in many emergency vehicles. In the auto stores there often the Gold or Platinum series. At Bass Pro or Cabela’s in the boating section.
Blows my mind I haven’t seen anyone mention the Noco Genius jumpers. They make lithium units that can jump 6 liter diesel to, construction equipment, etc. I own the GB40 and it easily jumped a 3.0L diesel with a battery that was at 3.3v
One of a few dangers when jumpstarting a car. They actually require us to take a class at work.