Something I learned trying to jump-start my mom's car

[Mike 03]

We're not doing much driving lately, so there have been a number of dead batteries in my family. Today was my mother's turn and I ran over there to jump start her car with a handheld device called a DB400. This device is just fine for cars where both terminals of the battery are exposed (like my old RAV4), but in my mom's case (she drives an Acura T something, TL?), the battery is covered by a solid and thick plastic shield and you can only remove a small tab that reveals the positive terminal.

It's easy to attach the red cable to the positive terminal, but then you have to find someplace relatively far away from the battery to attach the black (negative? grounding?) cable. (I'm not a car person, you can probably tell.)

We looked at the owner's manual and it advised attaching the negative cable to a metal bar about three feet from the battery. And the cable wouldn't even come close to reaching that bar.

We briefly discussed trying "an experiment" of attaching the black cable to something else underneath the hood, but we ultimately decided that wasn't really something stable geniuses like us should try.

With some of these handheld jump starters, the jump cables are very short, maybe twelve or fourteen inches. So as appealing and convenient as these devices are, you might want to keep that in mind when purchasing them, depending on your vehicles and your own situation.

This was a frustrating and embarrassing fiasco, because I was so sure I could get my mom up and running, and now she's going to have to call Triple A.

[drray23]

1. The car electrical system will be grounded to the main body. Anywhere you can clamp

on the metal body will do.

[brush]

5. Yep, just to the body of the car...long it's metal.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. It can also be a problem if your car that won't start is parked in a garage

nose-first and the jumper cables aren't long enough to attach to the starter car.

[Shermann]

8. I have a battery charger for that very occasion nt

[rampartc]

3. any exposed bolt head will work for that negative cable

the little devices work good, but make sure it is fully charged (overnight at least) and make sure the headlights and a/c are off.

[patphil]

4. There's so much plastic under the hood of cars now-a-days; hard to find a suitable metal ground.

[asiliveandbreathe]

6. You ARE a good son..I did not know there was a device as you describe..

I carry cables, always have..can't think of a time I have needed them, but in my travels throughout the years others have made good use of them..

Not much travel these days for sure, thus dead batteries in some cases..in Arizona more often..just last year, dead battery (maybe 3-4 years old) in the garage..Hubby went around corner to auto zone and wallah, up and running in no time..and he purchased the 5 year warrantee.

This might be the 3rd or 4th battery..2004 Avalanche..the bad part, hubby was just finishing a job, and I just got the call from him to come pick up the ladders..."he paints houses" LOL).. a WTF moment...

I am so happy Mom has triple A..that is a good thing...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Triple A is wonderful.

I have some kind of premium membership with them, and only need to call every couple of years or so. Back in February I stupidly left the dome light in my car on and killed the battery. Killed it as in I now needed a new battery altogether, and the tow truck guy had exactly what I needed on his truck. $174.00, well worth it.

People need to realize that at least once a week they need to start their car and drive for a couple of miles.

But I am sorry you weren't able to help mom out here.

[Foolacious]

9. Be aware that if you try to jump-start newer cars the old-fashioned way...

running from a car's battery to the dead battery, you run a risk of blowing some of the fuses in both cars' systems. Don't know if that's an issue with a dedicated battery-jumping device.

[The Figment]

10. You can get a cheap battery maintainer at Walmart or Harbor Freight

For about 40 bucks...no more jumpstarting.

[Niagara]

11. Another chore that I've learned to put on my to-do list.

Awhile ago, I've was finding my vehicle battery dead more often than I want to admit. I've learned it's easier to start up my truck every other day for about 10 minutes and drive it around the block once or twice a week. This has been a valuable learning experience for me. Plus, I get the chance to get out of the house while taking it out for a drive.



If your mom has mobility issues and has a difficult time getting to her vehicle, maybe have a neighbor or family member with a spare key start her vehicle for her every few days and drive it for a short distance on occasion. It sure is frustrating having a dead battery.