Car won't start after jump starting another car

Paddy1234

Hi folks,

Yesterday i jump started my wife's car as her battery was dead. This morning i went out and my own car wouldn't start. I tried jumping it and also had the AA out and they tried to jump it too but still wouldn't start.

He mentioned that it could be flooded or the starter could be gone?

What do ye think could be wrong with it?

Going to get it towed to a mechanic on Monday to see what the problem is. Hopefully it won't cost too much to fix.

Thanks for you help

hop2it

could be a fuse blown

hallo dare

Don't know how true it is, but i've heard you should never jump start with modern cars as it's bad for the computer. dono, just what ive heard

Sam Kade

The AA man was a great help

cletus

Did you start the other car successfully?

What are the 2 cars in question?

vermin99

hallo dare wrote: »

Don't know how true it is, but i've heard you should never jump start with modern cars as it's bad for the computer. dono, just what ive heard

Heard the same ,hope its not true ,cars and their computers ,break your heart they would

BNMC

The AA?

Please hand over your mancard.

timmy4u2

Paddy1234 wrote: »

Hi folks,

Yesterday i jump started my wife's car as her battery was dead. This morning i went out and my own car wouldn't start. I tried jumping it and also had the AA out and they tried to jump it too but still wouldn't start.

He mentioned that it could be flooded or the starter could be gone?

What do ye think could be wrong with it?

Going to get it towed to a mechanic on Monday to see what the problem is. Hopefully it won't cost too much to fix.

Thanks for you help[/QUOTE
That is a mad impossible assessment.
What make and vintage car is it and what are its present symptoms.
Impossible to make any assessment without that information

Paddy1234

cletus wrote: »

Did you start the other car successfully?

What are the 2 cars in question?

vermin99 wrote: »

Heard the same ,hope its not true ,cars and their computers ,break your heart they would

Yes the other car started successfully.

It's not a new car it's an old Opel Astra. I was jump starting a Punto.

cletus

Paddy1234 wrote: »

Yes the other car started successfully.

It's not a new car it's an old Opel Astra. I was jump starting a Punto.

what year and engine size both cars.

what is your car doing when you try and start it

Paddy1234

timmy4u2 wrote: »

Paddy1234 wrote: »

That is a mad impossible assessment.
What make and vintage car is it and what are its present symptoms.
Impossible to make any assessment without that information

cletus wrote: »

what year and engine size both cars.

what is your car doing when you try and start it

I was just asking him what he thought might be wrong with it and they are some things he mentioned.

2001 and 1999 - 1.4 and 1.2
It's as if it's going to start but just isn't turning over.

timmy4u2

Paddy1234 wrote: »

timmy4u2 wrote: »

I was just asking him what he thought might be wrong with it and they are some things he mentioned.

2001 and 1999 - 1.4 and 1.2
It's as if it's going to start but just isn't turning over.

I think your last job was with the CIA, very hard to get the information out of you.:D
Turning over means that the starter is engaging and it is turning the engine.
That has to happen before you can say it is acting as if it is going to start.
So I presume what you are saying is that the engine is turning over and it is about to fire but does not.
I presume that you have checked the three necessary ingredients that are needed for combustion.
It has enough fuel, it has spark and its has compression. And then check that they are happening at the correct time and there is nothing broken that will affect the timing etc

Interslice

Wouldn't be surprised if you fried your ECU. A second hand should be easy enough to get.

SCOOP 64

Started many a car with my astra g 1.4,with no problems, provided its done right,
could be ign coil,common problem on these to pack up, surprised the AA man wasn't more help, always find them good and would always run a diagnostic test on it,or was it one who just turns up with a tow truck?

biko

If donor car is turned off it won't affect its computer. Tbh, I haven't heard of anyone first hand that they could conclusively say it fried anything. Guess anything is possible with todays modern cars but it'd surprise me if the ECU couldn't hack a jump start.

When in doubt just connect donor car to dead car for 15 mins (both off) as this will trickle charge dead battery, then remove cables and try starting dead car. Once started take dead car for a spin to charge battery up.

dooroy

Was your car running when you jump started the other car ?
You say 'its as if its going to start but isn't turning over' - when you turn on ignition (dash lights on ) and then turn further to start what happens ?
a) do lights go dim ( battery low or bad connection on battery )
b) is there a click from solenoid ( starter worn - try tapping it )
c) nothing happens ( ignition switch /starter problem).

As biko says damage from jump starting is very rare - unless leads were connected wrong way around and you couldn't miss that (sparks etc );
and the older cars like yours tended to be 'tougher' as regards electronics compared to later cars which have much more expensive and delicate electronic components .

RandomAccess

I saw about ten people getting replacement car batteries in car park outside halfords at Liffey valley. Seemed like an awful lot of people for just 40 mins.

Technoprisoner

what makes you think the jump start has anything to do with the car not starting?

Chimaera

In the absence of any other information here, I'd suspect your own battery may be dead.

Proper procedure for jump starting is to connect positive to positive on the batteries, and connect negative of the booster battery to a bare metal component on the engine. Direct connection of the negative terminals on the two batteries can damage either or both batteries due to excessive current.

It's also generally a good idea to have the engine running on the booster car to provide a bit of extra juice to the battery when trying to start the dead battery.

I'd be very surprised if jump starting fried any controller as you're not supplying any more current to the vehicle than it's designed for anyway (provided you've connected everything properly). You could have blown a fuse or relay, but that's easy to check.

Paddy1234

Thanks to everyone for your advice. The car is fixed. I'm still not entirely sure exactly what the issue was. The mechanic said he had to clean the plugs as engine was flooded or something like that. Also the starter is weak and may need a replacement starter in the near future but its ok for the time being.

grange mac

biko wrote: »

If donor car is turned off it won't affect its computer. Tbh, I haven't heard of anyone first hand that they could conclusively say it fried anything. Guess anything is possible with todays modern cars but it'd surprise me if the ECU couldn't hack a jump start.

When in doubt just connect donor car to dead car for 15 mins (both off) as this will trickle charge dead battery, then remove cables and try starting dead car. Once started take dead car for a spin to charge battery up.

Fried ecu of audi a4 last year jump statting my tractor!! Expensive mistake...i still do it but I earth the frame of the recipent vehicle now as mechanic said if really have to do it then do that...

Tea drinker

Paddy1234 wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for your advice. The car is fixed. I'm still not entirely sure exactly what the issue was. The mechanic said he had to clean the plugs as engine was flooded or something like that. Also the starter is weak and may need a replacement starter in the near future but its ok for the time being.

Thanks for getting back to us, at least it wasn't a disaster

rcanpolat

just for reference i started the following all with dead batteries with a Ford Fiesta 1.2

1998 Mk4 1.4 Golf (5 seconds)
1987 230 Mercedes (15 minutes)
2000 Heavy Commercial Ford Transit (think it was 3.5 liter) (5 minutes)
1980 Chevy 350 5.7 Liter (30 minutes)