Re: [DML] Jump starting (was computer governor (should I be concerned?))

[srubano@xxxx]

Jump-starting any car has its hazards. Any car with a computer is in 
danger of the same affects of jump-starting it as the Delorean. Did 
you know that vehicle manufactures advise you NOT to jump-start any 
car that is equipped with air bags? If not done right then you an 
inadvertently deploy the air bags as you are jump-starting the car. 
Care should be taken when jump-starting any car. As long as you 
follow the procedures Walt outlined PLUS the ones below, you will be 
fine:

1. On the "Host" car connect the positive cable first to the positive 
side of the battery then the negative cable to the negative side of 
the battery. 

2. On the car with the dead battery: Connect the positive cable to 
the positive side of the battery and connect the negative cable to 
the engine block or chassis (whichever will provide a good ground). 
The jumper posts on the Delorean in the engine compartment provide 
good connections. What I tend to do before connecting the Jumper 
cables to either car is this: I put one of the clamps onto the post 
(with all of the other clamps disconnected) and rock it back and 
forth a little. The teeth that are on the clamps will scrape away any 
oxidation and bite into the metal. Just be sure the other three 
clamps are not connected to anything.

By connecting the positive cable first THEN the negative cable, you 
eliminate/minimize any surge that is sent into the electrical system 
of BOTH cars. I have seen countless amount of times people installing 
new batteries into their car and connecting the ground first then the 
positive lead and then wonder why all of their bulbs all burnt out at 
the same time in their dash board or why their computer fried.

Steve

--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Walter" <Whalt@xxxx> wrote:
> Senator,
> 
> I think that the suggestion to only jump-start DeLoreans in extreme
> emergencies is being too conservative. As long as some basic 
guidelines are
> followed, there should be no danger of voltage spikes damaging the 
computer
> governor. Here are my guidelines. Y'all correct me if I'm wrong 
and add
> anything that gives more insight.
> 
> 1) Before trying to start the parasite car, it is useful to leave 
the host
> car running with the jumper cables connected for a while. (Then 
shut it off
> before cranking!) This is for two reasons: First, this will help 
to charge
> the dead battery. Even with a partial charge, any current 
delivered by it
> will help considerably toward getting the car started. Long jumper 
cables
> particularly with their weak electrical connections do not make good
> conductors for the high current it takes to run a starter. Second, 
having
> the host car running will provide a higher and considerably more 
effective
> charging voltage (typically 14 volts or more) than with the host 
car not
> running (typically 12 volts, maybe less).
> 
> 2) Never have the host car running while cranking the parasite 
car. Despite
> the little extra kick that this may provide, don't do it. The 
reason for
> this is because the parasite car's starter may put an excessive 
load on the
> host car's alternator causing it to overheat, burn out diodes, and 
produce
> spikes as the regulator deals with the excessive load. Alternators 
are only
> designed to produce enough current to charge the battery and run 
the rest of
> the car. They do not have a high enough capacity or a regulator 
that is
> meant to handle the load of starting a car.
> 
> <SNIP>> 
> Walt Tampa, FL
> 
> <SNIP>