Am I the only one paranoid about giving people a jump start?

[MasterSolenoid]

Just last week, I gave away my jumper-cables.
My jump-pack is always with me when driving.

With cars today, you can't risk damaging your electrical system.

 

[andrew_j]

I let folks use my jump pack as it’s pretty fail safe and not my problem if the the light turns on green (hooked correctly) and it does not work.

My parents have one but dad insistent on storing at hatch area of Outback the electric trunk lock would not operate and could not pull it. So I pulled the 16’ trucker NAPA thick cables I bought in a pinch in a colllege for $150 in 1991!!!

 

[mrsilv04]

Last time, I was walking by the vehicle when I heard that familiar "click-click-click-click". It was a late on a Sunday afternoon in a rural state park that is popular with trail walkers and hikers. The problem is that this park is 20 miles from everywhere, and 30 miles from the nearest tow truck. Due to its remote location, cell signals can also be a problem. 20 something woman with younger kids. No way that I could have driven off. I would have wanted someone to help my sister or my niece in the same situation.

Was able to get it started by just hooking up the cables between the vehicles and giving it a few minutes. Didn't even have to start my truck.

 

[marc1]

I do it if I am approached and asked. I am not paranoid about helping per se but I do have concerns:

1. Hydrogen explosion, most batteries are sealed now but I still am wary given past experiences I have witnessed and not knowing the condition of the other person's car. I hook up the last connection to my car, I know my battery is healthy at least.
2. 99% of the times I have helped it has been a simple boost and they are on their way. It is the 1% that I don't like (other more serious issues eg. starter motor, bad cable at the starter end, engine cranks but won't start etc.) then I can't do much more than say "you'll need a tow truck".
3. I have never had any negative social issues (being held up, car jacked, stabbed etc.) to date but that is still a small concern, more so with each passing day now but for now... I am not letting that affect my willingness to help out.

 

[Wheel]

I toasted the battery in my old outback jump starting my wife's mini-van years ago. Fortunately, It ran long enough to get me to the shop where I ended up buying 2 batteries. My sister toasted her CR-V's ECU hooking things up backwards on a very dead battery... I carry a jump pack and cables now. Jump pack should give me a clue as to what's up with someone's system, regular cables if it needs a bigger boost. I've gotten kinda picky about who I help out.

 

[Cherrybomb]

Years ago,this old fart would be quick to help any one.Now I'm more observant to the situation. Dr's office,yes,tavern at bar time,convenience store after dark,not likely.I carry jumper pack and tire inflator,cables in winter.But if I help,I call the shots, I've driven semi,all my life and helped my share of people.My obsevation is lots of people don't prepare for problems with cars and driving.This is a great site to discuss and learn,update their equipment if needed,Carry on!

 

[Astro14]

I guess you can get in and verify yourself the battery is dead when you hear the starter solenoid click, but I think a lot of people assume the battery is dead when it could be a number of things wrong. Then you end up blowing up someones battery because that's not the problem or, or whatever problem they have transfers over to your vehicle if it happens to be a short circuit or something. Opinions?

I carry a jump pack in my car for two reasons - to jump my car if I am solo, and to jump someone else’s car.

I won’t put the alternator/electric in my car at risk for a stranger - but I have and will hook up my jump pack to get them going.

I still carry cables as both a last resort, and so that I could jump one of my own.

But for a stranger? Sure, I’ll use the jump pack to help, but not the cables.

 

[Capt W]

it's just that someone using jumper cables in 2024 is a red flag.

Quite possibly the weirdest thing I've read in a while.

I don't interact with strangers in this world any longer. Either I was born at the wrong time or the end is closing in fast. Either way, I keep my distance.

How sad for you. Can't tell where you're from, but it certainly isn't Texas. In my town we turn strangers into friends and take care of our neighbors. Enjoy the world from behind your blinds (and probably with a mask on).

 

[ET16]

If someone offered to jump me with jumper cables I would say thanks but no thanks. It's not that I think jumper cables are dangerous, it's just that someone using jumper cables in 2024 is a red flag.

Why exactly?

 

[BrendanC]

the silverado in my signature has always jumped other vehicles when needed. 1980CCA’s mixed with 370amps of alternator. i’ve never had an issue hurting someone else’s vehicle. my hookup for jumper cables is fused at 500 amps however.

 

[AZjeff]

Vehicle dependent. No problem helping an old Camry, not touching a late model anything.

Tried to jump start a Tesla..... nothing.

 

[pcoxe]

If the disabled car has an alternator that was putting out too much voltage, you will be subjected to the same when it fires up. Best not to connect two vehicles together these days. Electronics are expensive to replace.

 

[b_b]

If someone offered to jump me with jumper cables I would say thanks but no thanks. It's not that I think jumper cables are dangerous, it's just that someone using jumper cables in 2024 is a red flag.

how are jumper cables a red flag? its cheap insurance that is always in the tool box.

 

[cptbarkey]

No you are not paranoid. I flat out refused a person in long term parking, he was too lazy or not listening when I repeatedly told him to flag down one of the many shuttle busses that come by, who can then contact airport services who help such people every day every hour. I'm going to the airport, I dont care that you cant start your car.

 

[DriveHard]

I would certainly help jump someone's car with cables. Even modern cars have separate posts just for this purpose. Hook the ground up last away from the battery and you don't have to worry about the spark and hydrogen gas. IMHO lots of you guys are uber paranoid.

 

[Astro14]

A couple months ago, a guy approached me as I walked out of Lowe’s. At first, I thought it was panhandling, but he asked if I could give him a jumpstart. I was driving my Mercedes S 600.

That car has a 200 amp, water cooled, alternator, and H8 AGM battery and about 34 computers in the network. Every one of those computer modules is known to be voltage sensitive. Worse, they are no longer available, and troubleshooting them is actually quite difficult.

There is no way that I would ever hook all that up to an unknown electrical system. That’s asking for trouble - thousands of dollars in damage with an over or undervoltage spike, as well as dozens of hours of troubleshooting headaches.

No thanks.

I replied, “I’ve got a really good jump pack, let’s give it a try.” The Noco GB70* worked great on his 20+ year old Camry. He was started up and on his way.


*The GB70 is a relatively large capacity one I keep in that car. If the S600 needs a jump, that big H8 AGM, and V-12 starter, is going to take some juice to get going.

 

[Astro14]

I would certainly help jump someone's car with cables. Even modern cars have separate posts just for this purpose. Hook the ground up last away from the battery and you don't have to worry about the spark and hydrogen gas. IMHO lots of you guys are uber paranoid.

My S600 does not have posts. I would have to open the trunk, remove the trunk floor covering the battery, and hook up directly to it.

For the reasons above, that is a hard no. I would rather pay for a tow truck to come jump him. A couple hundred $$ is far cheaper than risking the complex electrical/electronic system in my car.

But, I gave the guy a jump with the Noco.

Problem solved.

 

[kebabaluba]

There is a certain risk of damaging the electronics or blowing up a battery if done incorrectly, so yes being a bit paranoid is quite justified.

 

[D60]

It's true some vehicles are risky. Allegedly guys were toasting TCMs in the GMT900s with the Ally.

I'm a jumper pack fan boi but still carry cables. A set of quality copper cables is an investment for life, literally. A jumper pack is expensive and fragile in comparison and no more a lifetime investment than the battery for your cordless drill.

I was an early adopter of jumper packs and am still a believer, AND I still carry cables.

 

[John105]

I told the story before. When my car was < 1 yo at work, someone says yo can I get a jump! I said sorry my battery is in the trunk.

They say what does that mean? And I kept walking.

The way I saw it was this is an office parking lot and you randomly selected me, so I could have a myriad of reasons for not wanting to comply. Such as I’m at work and need to get to my office. But the real reason was I didn’t want to mess up my new BMW. That’s not snotty. Because what’s going on at the other end affects my side. And the other driver is controlling that. My .02 now if it were in the hood where the other party were in a precarious situation? I’d have helped. Again, suburban office park so no…