Ok, I've jump started cars all my life like most people here have. My problem is newer cars. They don't want you jumping straight from the battery terminals so you don't blow the ECM or some crap, so they make a grounding spot for you to put the negative cable onto.
The problem is it never works. Ever.
So I end up connecting jumper cables directly to the battery terminals.
What am I doing wrong?
http://www.eagleequip.com/product/EJS-990056.html
I have had this exact one for years now and I love it.
In retrospect, I have easily had this for 10 years now. My how time flies.
Every time I jumped my Ranger to anything, I ended up buying a new alternator.
YMMV.
I've always used something that's attached firmly to the engine for ground. I've never had a problem doing it this way.
I just ask, cause I've tried on many vehicles to ground to something on the engine and it never seems to take.
I had to jump my '07 Savanah this morning and there is a big chunk of metal (aluminum?) that says GRD next to the alternator, so I tried that and it wouldn't do anything. After 5 minutes of messing around I just hooked the cables straight to the battery terminals and everything came on.
The only reason they want you to ground away from the battery is to lessen the risk of explosion- you make a spark in a cloud of hydrogen gas from a rapidly discharged or charging battery, things go boom...or so say the safety nazis.
Boosting modern stuff is a bit risky for the boostee, since bringing modules online from dead can be troublesome. If at all possible, you are farther ahead to slow charge the battery with all switches turned off. Not ideal late at night outside the pub, I know.
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