How do I jump-start another vehicle with my 2018 Sprinter

[Eric Sciacaluga]

i was asked if I could jumpstart a friends car from my sprinter.
I opened the battery compartment and realised that the usual positive and negative terminals were not that accessible to my jumpstart clips as other cable connections were also attached to the positive terminal.
I know where my own jumpstart connections under the bonnet are but I did not want to risk connecting these to charge someone else.
Could I still have used these under-bonnet connections?

 

[Eric Sciacaluga]

I was asked if I could jumpstart a friends car from my sprinter.
I opened the battery compartment and realised that the usual positive and negative terminals were not that accessible to my jumpstart clips as other cable connections were also attached to the positive terminal.
I know where my own jumpstart connections under the bonnet are but I did not want to risk connecting these to charge someone else.
Could I still have used these under-bonnet connections?

 

[EmilysDad]

the under bonnet battery connections are there to jump start from ....

 

[Eric Sciacaluga]

Thanks for the response. Good to know that I dont need access to the actual battery.

 

[EmilysDad]

Thanks for the response. Good to know that I dont need access to the actual battery.

on some cars, like mine, you need an afternoon off work to be able to get access to the battery terminals, so you'd have to use the under bonnet connections

 

[davidsl500]

The next question is; do you want to jump start someone from your Mercedes Sprinter? Lots of delicate electronics to fry when the other vehicle starts and potentially spikes your circuits.....

 

[EmilysDad]

The next question is; do you want to jump start someone from your Mercedes Sprinter? Lots of delicate electronics to fry when the other vehicle starts and potentially spikes your circuits.....

If you reckon that you can 'kill' your car when you perform a routine task of jump stating AN Other car, then the next question is ... is your Merc fit for purpose? It seems to me that there are many scare stories of a mate's Mum's neighbour's son frying their car/Merc when they jumped started another car ....
The other year when my local MB eventually sorted my car's suspension, I went to collect it and needless to say, the battery didn't have enough umph to start it. They turned up with a jump starter pack! Would a dealer risk frying a customer's car? I have never had a problem using jump leads. Just ensure you make the connections with a deliberate action ie no faffing about with sparks here, there & everywhere.

 

[mioba]

Connection order is key for cables when jump starting.

 

[davidsl500]

If you reckon that you can 'kill' your car when you perform a routine task of jump stating AN Other car, then the next question is ... is your Merc fit for purpose? It seems to me that there are many scare stories of a mate's Mum's neighbour's son frying their car/Merc when they jumped started another car ....
The other year when my local MB eventually sorted my car's suspension, I went to collect it and needless to say, the battery didn't have enough umph to start it. They turned up with a jump starter pack! Would a dealer risk frying a customer's car? I have never had a problem using jump leads. Just ensure you make the connections with a deliberate action ie no faffing about with sparks here, there & everywhere.

A jump starter pack is a different kettle of fish - its a battery pack with a limited voltage and thus much safer.

When you do a vehicle to vehicle jump start you are reliant on the non starter vehicle being in good knick and not for instance putting out excessive voltage especially if the other geezer revs it up to keep it going..... A failing alternator diode could cause a battery drain and hence a non starter and a failing alternator regulator could cause a high voltage condition. I wouldn't take the risk personally.

 

[mersum1es]

You have a van... --> meant for cary lot of stuff --> take a separate 60Ah battery (and start cables) with you. It might be handy in many other situations too... no risk to damage your car and more agile to move

 

[Eric Sciacaluga]

You have a van... --> meant for cary lot of stuff --> take a separate 60Ah battery (and start cables) with you. It might be handy in many other situations too... no risk to damage your car and more agile to move

Thanks for advice.
However, my Sprinter is not a van in the strictest sense... it is a campervan.

 

[robin.large]

Use the available terminals. They are designed for that purpose.
In general connect the cables to both batteries and, switch if unnecessary circuits on both vehicles (heating, lights, entertainment etc) allow to charge for a short while before cranking the dead car.
The two batteries will act to balance (buffer) any transient spike - make sure all terminals are tight. Frying your vehicle is most unlikely.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

 

[Eric Sciacaluga]

Thanks. Unfortunately the terminals on my battery are also connected with other cabling which makes it too complicated and labour intensive to use it.