Car battery question

Member

On Tuesday night I realized I'd stupidly left my lights on all day and my battery was dead. I used jumpers, and plugged into the new car of a friend, for at least 20 minutes. Nothing.

Then I had a final to deal with so stopped thinking about the car, and drove Mr. Go's instead. Today I called Triple A and they showed up with this little box, and jumped my totally dead car in about 2 seconds flat.

I asked why it was better than jumpers, and he said that new cars don't jump cars well b/c the computer in them sends a blocking signal so as to keep it in good running order. I don't know if that's a load of crap or what, but I'm sure Mr. Triple A guy knows far more than I on the topic of cars.

Point here is, that box costs about $109. I'd love to get one so if I ever do this again (and since this wasn't my first time leaving my lights on, it's a distinct possibility), I could take care of it myself.

Which of the car-lovers (jrjo, I'm looking at you) can tell me what that little jumper box of magic is about?

Member

I don't know the age of your car but I think the newer cars have automatic shut offs for lights so the battery does not go dead.

As for the little power box thingy. If you look around you can find one for a better price than $ 100+. Try Sears, Pep Boys, or any other car parts store. The advantage is you can use it as a power pack in case of a power failure. Bad news is you have to keep it plugged in and charged at home. What if your car "dies" at work ?

Member

I have one of those, and the fricken thing didn't work. MIL bought me a whole bunch of car things one year (a box with flares, jumpers, flashlight, a few other goodies in it) plus this long black & yellow thing that would supposedly restore my dead battery. It didn't work when I needed it, and I'm not sure why.

If you get one, I hope you have better luck with it.

Gone Fishin

If Ranger logs in, we'll get the definitive answer, but I think those Rescue Jumpers bolt out like 500 amps, where as regular jumper cables carry a whole lot less. If your battery was absolutely dead, short of a full recharge, which can take 12-hours on a charger, it's no surprise it took 'the box'.
Yeah, they're great for a rescue, so maybe worth the cost. Another thought I had was if your car has accessories like the clock, auxiliary lights and such that stay on all the time or extended periods after the car is shut off, draining the battery, you might want to consider a trickle charger. Small solar ones are pretty cheap..$30. They sit on your dash, plugged into the cig lighter while the car is off and continually top off the battery.
I'm not sure on that blocking signal with the computer. Nowadays, "the computer" gets blamed for all kinds of car probs. dunno

Oompa Loofah

We bought one at Sam's for about $100. It can charge in your home or it can charge in your car. (We bought it for a cross-country trip)

That thing ROCKS!!! It saved my lunch on at least three occasions. And it holds its charge for quite awhile. (At least three months in one case)

The beauty is, if someone needs a jump on a freeway/other dangerous place, you don't have to maneuver your cars nose to nose to help them out.

Member

what about the little boxes you plug into your cigarette lighter sockets?

i never had one, just thinking about it as an option though.

Excelent

The one I have prolly doesn't have enough voltage to start a car Razz

Car battery question

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