jwillman

My 79 started flawlessly several times yesterday and then at the grocery store just seemed to die. Lights on and starter engaged but not turn over the car. It immedialtely started when jumped. Not sure what caused it but I will work through the usual suspects and ensure I have a sound system.

To avoid being at the mercy of a passer by in the future I am thinking about carrying a portable jump start unit.

My question is are there recommendations on what portable jump start unit to own. I don't like the through the cigarette lighter units because of the age of the my wiring system. Thoughts on the jumper cable style?

Mrmerlin

dont use one,
fix the problem and your car will always start

dogleg

just 3 things to check...high rate discharge test on the battery for condition.voltage check at 2k rpms at battery to test alternator.and ensure nothing is staying on when it shouldnt draining the battery.

jwillman

As soon as I got to the house I checked battery voltage - 12.5V. I cleaned terminals even though they looked fine. Car started immediately.

Voltage at 2K was 13.1 with AC, blower high and cooling fans running, AC fan and dual electric fans. At idle I am in the very low 12's.

I will take the battery in this week and have it checked.

dogleg

sounds like the battery is checking out.they have an average life of 4 years iv,e seen them reach 10 years old but this is very rare.how long do you have the car.

jwillman

Okay, I edited the orignal post to clearly call out that I am troubleshooting the system.

Intent of the portable jumper unit is the same as having spare relays, fuel pumps etc in the back. Nothing works forever!

Just looking for recommendations on makes and capacity so I or others won't be stranded when a failure occurs.

dogleg

the cig lighter types would be useless it would take an hour to get enough power back into a dead battery.booster packs are brilliant i have a snap on one but there to bulky to be carrying around all the time in whats basically a two seater.

Ethre

I toss a spare battery in the back and use that as needed. If you don't have the spare anymore it might fit well in there too.

Alan

Loose battery in the back is a little scary... as a missile...

Otherwise you got the best advice already... don't get one - fix any issues you have.

If the dash lights stay on when you are 'cranking' but the car doesn't turn over... then this is a very odd issue. You say the starter engages - ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?

If the battery has insufficient power to turn over the car the dash lights should be vitually out on the pod at this time.

If the dash lights do die - I'd say test the battery and if that is good change the battery ground strap .

Alan

blown 87

I have used almost all of them at one time in my shop, do not get a cheap one, we have been using the Snap-On ones with the removalble leads for the past couple of years and really like them

jwillman

The dash lights do dim when the starter tries to turn.

I have a new battery ground cable and battery was in the car when I got last April so age is unknown if I can't find a date code.

michael j wright

And you must also keep the jump start battery charged also, just having one in the car dosn't mean that it will be ready to go when you need it.

hacker-pschorr

Sometimes **** happens and having a booster pack in the trunk is better than my wife trying to flag down a stranger in a parking lot.


+1

Between Jim (local shop owner) and myself we've tested quite a few different jumper packs. This is the best one we've used:



All of them are just some kind of motorcycle / moped battery in a box. The difference is the charging circuit and extra "toys" attached. Nothing but problems with any unit that has an air compressor, tool kit, ex-bake oven etc.... I was surprised to find how many do not have an over-charge circuit. The one I linked above can be left plugged in 24/7 with no issues.

I jumped started my bro-in-laws F250 diesel a few winters go with this one.

Ilike928

I bought the yellow harbor frieght one and it is great. The 928 started instantly with it. It has 400 amps starting power. Cost was 49.95 but guy gave it to me for 39.95 and added the 2 year warranty for $10. I haven't had it that long but right now I would say it is well worth the $50. Peace of mind plus you can use as a 12v power source or jump other cars with it etc.

R.Pires

Hi,

I have one Black&Decker like that of the pic, with 450 amp cranking power, and a very useful tyre compressor.
I bought it two weeks ago and before it finishes the first 8 hours of recommended charging, it was used to inflate a tyre in my daughter’s car that had a small puncture deflating slowly, and that was enough to enable the car to be driven to the tyre specialist and repair it. It saves me the trouble of changing the tyre!
This weekend a neighbour left an interior light of his car on for two days and of course today the car was “dead”, until I connected my booster, and made it “resuscitate” immediately.
Although it’s not practical to have in the car, at least at home there will be no more problems with deflated tyres and dead batteries!

Regards