Don't Be That Guy

[ChileDOg]

Don't be that ******* like I was. You can't simply jump-start these vehicles when your battery dies, as you could in the past. Sure, you may get lucky once or twice, but you take a big chance of shorting out a module somewhere. I currently have a replacement radio on the way (which will likely need reprogramming at the dealer), but I still have my doubts that it will be the total fix. These things are rolling computers.

 

[RamDiver]

Don't be that ******* like I was. You can't simply jump-start these vehicles when your battery dies, as you could in the past. Sure, you may get lucky once or twice, but you take a big chance of shorting out a module somewhere. I currently have a replacement radio on the way (which will likely need reprogramming at the dealer), but I still have my doubts that it will be the total fix. These things are rolling computers.

^^^^^
True words here. How lucky are you feeling today, if jump-starting is the plan?


Sorry to hear about your expensive lesson, and thanks for sharing.

The Gooloo GP4000 is on sale today at Amazon for $80.

https://www.amazon.com/GOOLOO-GP4000-Starter-SuperSafe-Portable/dp/B09HJH1S41/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UXbQe-3z1vhJ7McLbNX4_Y0G0GSKEwE70WogqVCdXqDj_aEhOFlrVMYuBrFL3lsngty2ieYDRocOk6K2A7Tyq_1rmxOqqLvLmzy1-R2XMdnsnn4Iw9AeZas43Qjr1Osan7oY59GpZ2L9MhISUUGZ4SAhiIO14_HnNjBLGUKThp589gQc1mY8AFFLLK68kaANMt9JO6pvzNnuA5GxyoKGfONFQTKoKr3wFFj9OAretwdAfDHKoFKU0J-3xPt_rPCR1cjDn1athehCIid7aJZqD41MxoK-YozKDuf8HfHdJXE.EFW3Pt3EvOUWrdpuyp9-_5d1Q2RSkAztTx4IzcoBhu4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Gooloo%2BGP4000&qid=1763834235&sr=8-5&th=1

Or $88 at Walmart.ca for the Canucks.

Verify Your Identity

The Gooloo GP4000 scores very well on the following YouTube review.

Best Jump Starter I've Ever Tested!

NOCO, GooLoo, AVAPOW, Nexpow, YaberAuto, UTRAI, Kalyoosen, Oreetga, BRPOM, AIPOWAY, Gillaway, and E-Ant. Jump starters tested for cranking amps, total watt h...

www.youtube.com

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[JD Martin]

Better than a jump start is having a portable battery starter. My battery went dead completely out of the blue when I was in Florida back in the summer and I would have been hoofing it from Lowe's to the parts store without that thing. Essentially nothing but a several-use portable car battery, with overdraw circuitry and a couple of USB ports that you can use in a pinch to recharge your phone. I won't travel without one now.

Your point on batteries is well taken, though. Cars today have become complex enough that when the battery starts to go all kinds of crazy crap happens. My Ram drove fine to Lowe's, then wouldn't even turn over in the parking lot and after I jumped it off with the portable wouldn't go out of limp mode. Had to drive to Advance in limp mode (lucky it was less than a mile on back roads). Bought a new battery, popped it in, problem solved. I made it 6 1/2 years on the original battery, which is pretty good these days.

 

[ChileDOg]

The rest of the story...So I was that guy.

This story started at a Florida Walmart when my battery died in the parking lot. I had a new one in my boat at home, so I figured that if I could just get the truck home, I would swap it out and get back on the road. So I headed to the Walmart automotive department, which was about to close. I figured I would just buy a jump box, jump it, and be on my way. So the first time I EVER received Superior customer service at a Walmart; an employee offered to drive his own personal vehicle around the building and jump my truck with cables (yeah, imagine that - at quitting time, no less). He was a Super nice guy, so I took him up on it. We tried that, but no-go (lots of clicking and my dash looked like a Disco Tech). So I did end up buying a jump box; however, - off the shelf, it didn't have enough amps to turn the motor over either. Soooo, as I came running back up to the automotive counter, as they were just locking up, another excellent employee unlocked the battery shelf and cash register to sell me a battery (can you imagine that?). I was feeling like the golfing preacher in Caddyshack. I installed the battery, cranked it up, and finally got home.

On the way home, I realized my radio would not come on, and a few gauges did not work. The next day, I started troubleshooting and viewing YouTube Videos (ut oh). I did the negative terminal disconnect for 30 minutes, and the gauges came back to life, but still no radio. Then I discovered fuse F-44 (radio) at the driver's lower fuse panel was blown. I changed that, and the radio came on but had no volume, even though I could see the bars increase and decrease as I adjusted the volume no sound came out. Then I discovered fuse F-12 (ANC), also at the driver's lower fuse panel, was blown. I changed that but...no joy. I was beginning to think my ANC was fried and began questioning whether I needed a radio or not. Of course I did...so more troubleshooting began. With the thought of perhaps something within the radio could be fried, I came across a YouTube video where the radio screen was disassembled, and a cold solder joint was heated up. In that video, it worked. In mine...not so much. I won't divulge my increased stupidity of that endeavor so lets press on...ahem, I ended up deciding (knowing by now) my radio was screwed, so I ordered a replacement radio (approx $560) from OEM CAR AUDIO LLC (good folks). Received and installed the radio...dang it, same thing...no volume. Okay, so the only smart thing I did here was order the PAC ANC-CH01 Factory ANC Module Bypass Harness which finally cured the volume issue (whew), confirming the ANC is fried. Okay, so do I really need the ANC? I don't think so. I really can't tell the difference. Some folks bypass the ANC on purpose anyway to hook-up a power amp.

Anyways, I hope this was good reading and instructional on what to do (and what not to do) with these rolling computer modules. Well, at least it looks like a truck.

There is a good side to this whole mess...I haven't had a drink in 9 days as of this writing. I hope this helps someone, someday.

 

[British Bulldog]

This would have probably driven me TO Drink!
Glad it’s sorted. Is the lesson here that I’m getting to not try to jump start but use a power pack?

 

[turkeybird56]

This would have probably driven me TO Drink!
Glad it’s sorted. Is the lesson here that I’m getting to not try to jump start but use a power pack?

YUP

 

[DanAR]

I’ve lived a charmed life in that all my batteries have died in the garage or in the rare event they showed sign of distress while starting, I didn’t take them out of the garage. I’ll try to remember this lesson learned for the day mine conks out. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RamDiver]

I’ve lived a charmed life in that all my batteries have died in the garage or in the rare event they showed sign of distress while starting, I didn’t take them out of the garage. I’ll try to remember this lesson learned for the day mine conks out. Thanks for sharing.

Same here. Most of my battery failures have shown signs of slow starting, long before they croaked. I've continued using the truck for days or weeks while monitoring the declining performance.

Back then, I had a work truck as a daily driver, which may have contributed to my risky behaviour. Nothing like living on the edge.

I feel quite liberated from that risk, besides being retired. Last winter, I kept a NOCO GB-40 in the truck, checking the battery level periodically. I only had to recharge once, and that's more likely related to my avoiding 100% charging on Lithium batteries.

The NOCO GB-40 has been retired and replaced with a Gooloo GP-4000.

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[Sherman Bird]

This would have probably driven me TO Drink!
Glad it’s sorted. Is the lesson here that I’m getting to not try to jump start but use a power pack?

Funny... GM was preaching this in the 1990's at their Deerpark training facility in Pasadena, Texas and PROVING what damage can occur. I chunked my cables then, and bought a jumper box. I've been sharing the message north of 30 years,,, to a lot of deaf ears.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Funny... GM was preaching this in the 1990's at their Deerpark training facility in Pasadena, Texas and PROVING what damage can occur. I chunked my cables then, and bought a jumper box. I've been sharing the message north of 30 years,,, to a lot of deaf ears.

I'm certain I've been lucky, and I've been hearing the warnings, but cables were all I had. I probably provided or received a cable-jump, at most, once every 2 years or so and maybe even less so the odds may have been in my favor. And I'm talking about vehicles with a fair amount of sensitive electronics. So I was lucky but I was careful too. My background in electronics has taught me about spikes and transients.

So I have a jump pack now though.

In my defense a lot of the folks who warned of the dangers of jumper cables were working as some form of mechanic, the same ones who told me I would ruin my transmission if I EVER changed the fluid and that synthetic motor oil would eat my engine from the inside out, so...

A lot of deaf ears, but a lot of horrible advice trying to find it's way to those ears.

 

[karkrafter]

Please educate me here, what does jumping from another vehicle do to hurt your electrical system? And what is the difference between using the 12 V battery in the jump vehicle and the 12V in an external jump box?

 

[Gary Fields]

My 2020 Ram 1500's battery died on the 37th month that I had owned it. Warranty is for 36 months. I jumped it from my lawnmower and headed to Walmart- about the only place in my one horse town. Took the old one in with me and noticed the similarity with the Walmart Everstart. They are identical except the stickers. Same seams, same plastic welds, exact size. Pretty sure Mopar is sourcing batteries the same as old Sammy is.

 

[OldRider]

If the donor vehicle isn't running, what is the difference in jumping off it's battery verses using a jump box? What if you unhook the battery cables on the donor vehicle so you're just hooking up to a 12v battery?

 

[RamDiver]

My 2020 Ram 1500's battery died on the 37th month that I had owned it. Warranty is for 36 months. I jumped it from my lawnmower and headed to Walmart- about the only place in my one horse town. Took the old one in with me and noticed the similarity with the Walmart Everstart. They are identical except the stickers. Same seams, same plastic welds, exact size. Pretty sure Mopar is sourcing batteries the same as old Sammy is.

This reminds me of the day I stopped at a Toyota dealer's parts counter, a number of years ago.

I may have been obsessing a wee bit about the performance and longevity characteristics between various battery manufacturers, back in the day when you could count on a few of them being better.

I asked the young'in at the counter, "Who makes the Toyota batteries?", because they're all plastered with Toyota decals. And much to my surprise, he was insistent that Toyota made all of their own batteries.

And no amount of words could disuade him from his opinion on that.

.

 

[RamDiver]

What if you unhook the battery cables on the donor vehicle so you're just hooking up to a 12v battery?

^^^^^
I think that you should win the door prize for that question.

I would think that issue is the key. A battery is a battery until it's connected to a live circuit.
Then it could become a tool of destruction.

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[DanAR]

Especially in the wrong hands. My wife and I were leaving a movie one day and came across a young kid in the parking lot with a van with a dead battery and he seemed to not have a clue as to what to do. So I told him I could try to jump it off my old Explorer since I had cables in it. I pulled it up nose to nose and handed him the cable ends for his vehicle and told him to hold them while I connected mine. I turned to my truck and put my neg clamp on and then the pos clamp and behind me I could hear all this snapping, buzzing and crackling going on. I turned around and the kid was holding both cable ends together with both hands, staring blankly and didn’t have the sense to separate them or drop them. I grabbed them from him and probably remarked something to him about his intelligence. But I managed to get his van started and the old Explorer seemed none the worse for wear.

 

[RamDiver]

Especially in the wrong hands. My wife and I were leaving a movie one day and came across a young kid in the parking lot with a van with a dead battery and he seemed to not have a clue as to what to do. So I told him I could try to jump it off my old Explorer since I had cables in it. I pulled it up nose to nose and handed him the cable ends for his vehicle and told him to hold them while I connected mine. I turned to my truck and put my neg clamp on and then the pos clamp and behind me I could hear all this snapping, buzzing and crackling going on. I turned around and the kid was holding both cable ends together with both hands, staring blankly and didn’t have the sense to separate them or drop them. I grabbed them from him and probably remarked something to him about his intelligence. But I managed to get his van started and the old Explorer seemed none the worse for wear.

I'm glad those days are now history for me. I never liked boosting anyone but myself.

In future, when I need to donate, I will plug in the alligator clips on my booster pack and offer the device to those needing a boost.

They can connect it to their compromised battery, and I will provide directions if required.

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[Wild one]

Especially in the wrong hands. My wife and I were leaving a movie one day and came across a young kid in the parking lot with a van with a dead battery and he seemed to not have a clue as to what to do. So I told him I could try to jump it off my old Explorer since I had cables in it. I pulled it up nose to nose and handed him the cable ends for his vehicle and told him to hold them while I connected mine. I turned to my truck and put my neg clamp on and then the pos clamp and behind me I could hear all this snapping, buzzing and crackling going on. I turned around and the kid was holding both cable ends together with both hands, staring blankly and didn’t have the sense to separate them or drop them. I grabbed them from him and probably remarked something to him about his intelligence. But I managed to get his van started and the old Explorer seemed none the worse for wear.

Just a tidbit of advice,you should always connect the Pos first then the Neg. I'm to lazy to go into the reasons,but if you google why,you'll get lots of reasons why the Pos should be connected first

 

[Wild one]

If the donor vehicle isn't running, what is the difference in jumping off it's battery verses using a jump box? What if you unhook the battery cables on the donor vehicle so you're just hooking up to a 12v battery?

Nothing,contary to alot of advice on here,i still boost vehicles every once in awhile, i just make sure my vehicle is off,and connect to the dead one first,then hook up to my vehicle

 

[RamDiver]

Nothing,contary to alot of advice on here,i still boost vehicles every once in awhile, i just make sure my vehicle is off,and connect to the dead one first,then hook up to my vehicle

That's always the best practice, so we remain in the habit, but it really only counts when you close the circuit.

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