Jumping a Delorean

[ovrkil112]

When my old battery went dead I've been jumping the car by connecting the jumper box right to the battery post behind the passenger seat. I just had a new heavy duty battery installed but there are no post on them.... just 2 small bolt heads.
Not sure but I thought I read some where on these boards that you could jump the car on the electrical post that are under the back hood. I see a positive post but i dont see a negative post.
Just in case I ever have to jump it again can it be done that way instead of pulling the battery out from under the rear passenger seat compartment?

[nullset]

When my old battery went dead I've been jumping the car by connecting the jumper box right to the battery post behind the passenger seat. I just had a new heavy duty battery installed but there are no post on them.... just 2 small bolt heads.
Not sure but I thought I read some where on these boards that you could jump the car on the electrical post that are under the back hood. I see a positive post but i dont see a negative post.
Just in case I ever have to jump it again can it be done that way instead of pulling the battery out from under the rear passenger seat compartment?

Positive goes to the jump post you found. Negative goes to the frame.

I use the engine block, on the passenger side next to the water pump, there's a piece of metal that looks like an 'O'. It's used for pulling the engine. It also is a convenient place to connect your jumper cables.

For future reference, proper jump sequence:

Bad Positive (jump post. Engine bay, passenger side, in front of the coolant tank)
Good Positive
Good Negative
Bad frame (NOT negative. There's a chance of sparks and explosions).

Removal is opposite: Bad negative, good negative, good positive, bad positive.

Wear safety glasses if you have them. It won't hurt.

--buddy

[Elvis]

Any metal piece of the engine can be used as ground/black/minus like on any other car.

But preferably you want to use the hook where the engine can be lifted.

[Elvis]

safety glasses ?

an order to put the cables on ?

I must have burned my car many times in the past.


There is only one real rule:

Don't swap plus and minus !!!!!

[ovrkil112]

Thanx for the info guys!

[nullset]

safety glasses ?


Never hurt. If a battery boils and decides to spray sulfuric acid, you'll be glad you're wearing them. Not necessary, but never a bad idea



an order to put the cables on ?


Just for people who like such things. It does make sure that you can't accidentally short across one of the batteries, for example, by hooking plus and minus to the good one and leaving the bad ones dangling.

--buddy

[rddmc]

I try to never jump start any car if I can avoid it. If possible, I remove the battery and put it on a battery charger. My battery charger has a slow, fast and start setting. I usually use the slow charge setting and then reinstall the fully charged battery. I believe this is the safest method and the best method for the car's computer system. Sometimes however this method is not an option.

Rod
10921

[DeLorean]

I thought the thread title was literal ;)

Only did that once really seriously... 4 wheels off the ground, landed, didn't bottom out continued on trouble free.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

I try to never jump start any car if I can avoid it. If possible, I remove the battery and put it on a battery charger. My battery charger has a slow, fast and start setting. I usually use the slow charge setting and then reinstall the fully charged battery. I believe this is the safest method and the best method for the car's computer system. Sometimes however this method is not an option.

Rod
10921

It's a 30 year old car, what computer system?

[Rich]

It's a 30 year old car, what computer system?

There are at least 3 electronic control modules in this 30 year old car.

Ignition ECU
Lambda (emissions) ECU
Idle Speed ECU

Is that a computer system? Do any of them like reverse voltage? Don't know and I hope never to find out.

[DeLorean]

It's a 30 year old car, what computer system?

The DeLorean does have a relatively sensitive computer on board, the Jetronic lambda-sound computer is about as complex as any 1980' EFI system. Pull your driver side wood panel you you'll see it there, it's a fairly large unit!

Is it likely to get damaged from a jump start? I doubt it. Nor would any modern fuel injection control unit. There is built in protection for over-voltage, which is also unlikely to result from a jump start.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

The DeLorean does have a relatively sensitive computer on board, the Jetronic lambda-sound computer is about as complex as any 1980' EFI system. Pull your driver side wood panel you you'll see it there, it's a fairly large unit!

Is it likely to get damaged from a jump start? I doubt it. Nor would any modern fuel injection control unit. There is built in protection for over-voltage, which is also unlikely to result from a jump start.

I'm just happy I didn't see a commodore 64 in there.

[David T]

To protect the "computers" from voltage spikes ALWAYS connect the jumper cables with the key OFF! All too often someone tries to start the car, realizes the battery is dead and forgets to turn the key off, no lights or buzzers to remind you the key is still on if the battery is dead. It is always safest to slowly recharge the battery but you do not always have time. NEVER try to jump a battery that has been frozen. It can explode. A battery can freeze if it is dead and then subjected to freezing temperatures. The sensitive components in a Delorean include:
Ignition ECU
Lamda control
Auto trans shift computer aka shift governor
Wiper delay module
Courtesy delay module
Alternator diode bridge

Any or all of these can be damaged not so much from a voltage spike but reversing polarity, even for a second.

If you do not trust the other person to connect correctly watch and make sure before connecting to the dead car. You can also blow out all of the electronics on the car being used to jump and newer cars with all of their sensitive computers can be expensive to fix! A battery pack is MUCH safer. No chance of blowing the "good" car!
David Teitelbaum

[Jimmyvonviggle]

To protect the "computers" from voltage spikes ALWAYS connect the jumper cables with the key OFF! All too often someone tries to start the car, realizes the battery is dead and forgets to turn the key off, no lights or buzzers to remind you the key is still on if the battery is dead. It is always safest to slowly recharge the battery but you do not always have time. NEVER try to jump a battery that has been frozen. It can explode. A battery can freeze if it is dead and then subjected to freezing temperatures. The sensitive components in a Delorean include:
Ignition ECU
Lamda control
Auto trans shift computer aka shift governor
Wiper delay module
Courtesy delay module
Alternator diode bridge

Any or all of these can be damaged not so much from a voltage spike but reversing polarity, even for a second.

If you do not trust the other person to connect correctly watch and make sure before connecting to the dead car. You can also blow out all of the electronics on the car being used to jump and newer cars with all of their sensitive computers can be expensive to fix! A battery pack is MUCH safer. No chance of blowing the "good" car!
David Teitelbaum

Where is the wiper delay module located?

[jawn101]

Where is the wiper delay module located?

Up under the dashboard, right above the steering column. Same place as the door buzzer and blinker relay.

[Ron]

$.02
I agree with: Elvis that the (main) rule is don't swap plus and minus; the prone components list(s) omit the most likely candidate to get zapped, the voltage regulator (on the "good" vehicle, usually), but the other components, like Delorean (?real name?) says, aren't particularly sensitive; and Buddy so far as hooking the negative to some part (on the block) other than the battery last (the others don't matter at all because no current flows anywhere until the last connection).

Easy, simple to remember rule- Positives first, non-battery Ground last.

FWIW- It is usually best to let it charge for at least 5-10 minutes before trying it, and then let it run another 5+ min before removing the cables (to cut down on the time the alternator will have to run (w/o a cooling break) to replenish the low battery).

[Elvis]

2 pages to describe how to jump start a Delorean ?

OMG !!!!


Some of you might remember that BS that was posted for years telling people
that their automatic computer governor will fail due to jump start.
After I showed them the schematic it took another 5 years until most got it and I
thought that stupid misinformtaion is finally dead.
Please don't start it again !
No electronic device in our babies ever died from jump starting !

but - DON'T SWAP THE CABLES !

[Bitsyncmaster]

FWIW- It is usually best to let it charge for at least 5-10 minutes before trying it, and then let it run another 5+ min before removing the cables (to cut down on the time the alternator will have to run (w/o a cooling break) to replenish the low battery).

+++
If you let the running jump car charge that dead battery a little it can save damage to the alternators.

I have never seen anthing get damaged by jump starting a car properly.

[stevedmc]

I have found it is much more convenient to just push start the car. I've only had to do this once and my issue ended up not being battery related, but yeah. If you ever get stranded somewhere and the car won't start just push it, jump in, and start it the redneck way. Its much faster and easier than waiting for AAA to show up.

[sean]

I have found it is much more convenient to just push start the car. I've only had to do this once and my issue ended up not being battery related, but yeah. If you ever get stranded somewhere and the car won't start just push it, jump in, and start it the redneck way. Its much faster and easier than waiting for AAA to show up.

Sound advice if you're in a 5-speed and a beast of a man like Steve. :D

[nullset]

I have found it is much more convenient to just push start the car. I've only had to do this once and my issue ended up not being battery related, but yeah. If you ever get stranded somewhere and the car won't start just push it, jump in, and start it the redneck way. Its much faster and easier than waiting for AAA to show up.

Try this after leaving your lights on all day….(hint: it doesn't work).

You need enough juice to run the coil and fuel pump or push starting is a no-go.

--buddy
PS: The PO of my car removed or disabled the buzzer…..

[David T]

While it is true that properly jumping a vehicle doesn't damage anything, there is a BIG chance of a mistake. Even just touching the cables backwards for a SECOND is all it takes to destroy sensitive electronics. Once you see the spark it is already done. And you risk damaging BOTH cars. Using a battery pack at least limits the damage to one car if the worst should happen. All cable ends and battery terminals should be clearly marked and there is enough light to clearly identify everything. Red to Red, Black (ground) to Black (ground). The order is only important in that you should try to hook the last connection, Black, (ground) on the running vehicle away from the battery. That way there is less chance of igniting any battery gases. You should also never let the two cars touch. At least everyone adopted the standard negative ground 12 volt system so it makes things much safer. Just don;t try jumping a Delorean off a Prius!!!!!!!! I am guessing here but I believe the caps blowing in the automatic transmission shift computer has nothing to do with jumping the battery. They seem to age and fail anyway.
David Teitelbaum

[nullset]

While it is true that properly jumping a vehicle doesn't damage anything, there is a BIG chance of a mistake.


Or you could get these: http://www.amazon.com/Juice-Performance-BC0880-SafeGuard-Booster/dp/B00396BD6M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330096336&sr=8-2

Yup. Jumper cables with automatic polarity switching.

(It's sad that this is something people need….)

--buddy

[stevedmc]

Try this after leaving your lights on all day….(hint: it doesn't work).

You need enough juice to run the coil and fuel pump or push starting is a no-go.


Well, even though I have a carb on the Delorean, I do drive a Geo Metro that has EFI. When my alternator died I had to push start the car to make a 30 mile drive home. The next day I replaced the alternator. Suprisingly the battery didn't have enough power to start the car but somehow it was able to handle the high pressure fuel pump and ignition until I made it home.

My question is, why on earth would you leave your lights on all day? Are you talking about headlights? I try to make it a habit to do a brief walk around of the Delorean (as somewhat of a safety check) each time I park the car. This helps me know what parts fell off that day and prevents me from doing something stupid like leaving headlights on.




While it is true that properly jumping a vehicle doesn't damage anything, there is a BIG chance of a mistake. Even just touching the cables backwards for a SECOND is all it takes to destroy sensitive electronics.

A person really shouldn't even own a Delorean if they can't tell positive from negative (aka earth/common ground).

[sean]

A person really shouldn't even own a Delorean if they can't tell positive from negative (aka earth/common ground).

Sadly I think you just called out more than a few owners...:D

[Farrar]

The sensitive components in a Delorean include:
Ignition ECU
Lamda control
Auto trans shift computer aka shift governor
Wiper delay module
Courtesy delay module
Alternator diode bridge

...and the owner. ;)

[stevedmc]

Sadly I think you just called out more than a few owners...:D

Probably so.


...and the owner. ;)

In my opinion you have to be pretty good at taking sh$t if you are going to drive one of these beasts. You wouldn't believe the crap I heard last night after stopping for gas and a pizza. I thought I was going to get robbed at Brother's Chicken and Gas while some dude took pictures of the car.

One day I'm gonna mess up, tell off one of the gas station experts, and he/she will probably pull a gun out on me.

[David T]

Try jumping a car in the dark. You can't see colors well and the battery is not always well marked. Add in using a pair of cables you never saw before if you are using someone else's and it can happen to anybody. Too many people do not fully appreciate the danger in doing it wrong. "Back in the day" it didn't matter as much. Now, with all of the computers and such you can do a lot of damage. Many new cars go so far as to say NEVER jump a dead car. They say remove the battery and charge it or put a fully charged one in.
David Teitelbaum

[stevedmc]

Try jumping a car in the dark. You can't see colors well and the battery is not always well marked. Add in using a pair of cables you never saw before if you are using someone else's and it can happen to anybody.

No Delorean owner should travel anywhere without a flashlight, jumper cables, and a basic set of tools. You guys really do amaze me.

I was at Farrars last night installing a dome light. A wire needed a new connector and within seconds Farrar retrieved a set of wire cutters, a new connector, and crimpers.

You people who drive around with no tools and a 30 year old spare tire with no air in it really do amaze me.

[rddmc]

I agree that a DeLorean owner should always have a flashlight, fire extinguisher, basic tools, selected spare parts(hoses, belts, fuel pump,etc.) when driving any distance from home. The two things that I value the most are my cell phone and my AAA Premier card.

Rod
10921

[whocruiser]

AAA Premiere (up to a 200 mile tow, up to 4 times in a year, here with the Florida AAA club) and the addresses of DMC Florida (125 miles from my door) and every other major qualified Delorean repair specialist in the country when on a road trip keeps me much more confident.

[Tillsy]

Try this after leaving your lights on all day….(hint: it doesn't work).

You need enough juice to run the coil and fuel pump or push starting is a no-go.

Taking your juice comment literally, Doc Brown jump started his DeLorean one time using three lemons...