Answer:
I've only had one problem in all the years I've been fixing stuff. I used a Dodge Challenger I had to jump start a semi-truck. It worked but it blew out my radio in the car when the truck started. The only suggestion I would have is when you go to jump someone, turn everything off in the donor car and don't let the person in the dead car crank and crank on the starter. Allow plenty of time to charge the battery.
Hope this helps
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
It can damage your car by overlaoding it. Like a Yugo trying to jump a Hummer. That your car could be overwhelmed.
But jumping similar types of cars should do no harm if the battey cables are hooked up right.
If you hook up the cables wrong yes you can damage your car. When you jump another car make sure to hook the negative cable on your side to a clean bolt or other metal part on your car and not to the battery. If you do it right if there were to be a power surge or something it wont fry your battery because it has to go through the whole car to complete the circuit and cant damage your car that way. Hope I have been helpful.
It is a small possibility that your car can take damage… It's all about the connections and the power wattage your car has… Never think jumping a car is fool proof… If you really must help, then it's always a risk taker… Besides, don't give jumps to people who will need another… Because it will become a habit and your car will go nuts from the constant drainage of power… Only give jumps to people who may have left their lights on or some other power draining scenario, because the battery will simply recharge and they'll be able to start it again on their own… Bad batteries, alternators, or anything physical wrong with the car, you have no clue what drained their power source, so why connect yours to theirs…
It is possible to get a reverse flow of energy into your cars electrial system while jumping another. This does not occur often but due to the advancements in new cars a back flow would fry delicate wiring sending 24 volts into a system only designed for 12. Your dad is correct and if you call a tow truck for a jump, He will jump you off of a totally seperate battery from his trucks system because this would put him out of buisness.
well this is just a guess. but i think it depends on what kind of car you have because if you put to much juice into jump starting a car, than that cant be good in anyway for the battery. but this is just a guess. becasue i once tried charging a car battery and i put the amps way to high and the wires melted and the battery was destroyed.
It will not hurt your car if you do it properly. If you hook the cables up wrong or don't know what you are doing it can. Don't jump someone's battery if you do not know what you are doing.
Yes.
If you hook the cables up wrong you can damage your electronics. Just make sure you know how to do it the correct way.
as long as the jumper cables are hooked up right and you keep your car running while jumping the other car you will be fine with no damage whatsoever.