I have a recurring short in my 240D that sometimes requires me to jump the car in cold weather. But it's not a bad idea to have a booster pack around anyway, since some newer cars cannot easily jump a diesel.

I have been looking at the JNC aka Jump-N-Carry models for a while and there seems to be at least one model that will fill the bill.

I also have jumper cables but that doesn't help if there's no other car around.

Your experience with booster packs that work would be appreciated.

Webmaster/Moderator: Would this be a good topic for a sticky? Understanding the amp draw etc., required, and doing the connecting and checking, in case glow plugs didn't seem to fire? Just asking.

Thanks!

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I have a MAC tools jumper pack (not cheap @ $250) that works well. I have not tried starting a diesel with it though. You may be better off with a group 27, 800 to 1000cca battery just left in the trunk with your jumper cables. Would not be that expensive compared to a good quality booster pack. Booster packs in general do not provide LONG lasting cranking power.

If a newer car with an operating electrical system running at 14V cannot jump a diesel, how do you expect any booster pack, with 12.5V, to do it?

If you want serious starting capability, you have to carry a huge diesel battery with suitable 600 amp cables...........and, even then it might be dicey if the first battery is really discharged.

It'd probably work better to have a little 1000 watt honda generator in the trunk with a normal 120A jump starter unit you can plug into it.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

85A at 12V isn't going to do much to start the diesel in the cold.

Our cars (both 25% bigger than yours) require about a minute of connection time to the other RUNNING car (at 13.8 volts/70 amps, and the solid Group 49 battery at 800 CCA) to be able to do a cold start. That equivalent booster pack would probably weight 300 pounds.

With a gasser, you only need to spin the engine fast enough to draw in the mixture, and then have enough juice to run the electronics/coil (to light the fire). With a diesel, you need high amps for significant glow time, and then you still need reserve juice for a full-speed cranking cycle (to make enough heat to light the fire). Boosters are great, IMO, for gas vehicles, and virtually useless for a diesel.

Sounds like a waste of money to me. Either fix it, pull the fuses, disconnect the battery, or get a quick-disconnect for the battery.

(you don't even want to ask about trying to jump the Suburban at 15 dF, which at that point has a pair of 800-CCA "dead" batteries, a 6.5 engine, and a 5 kW starter)

__________________
James Marriott
2003 Buick Regal
1983 300D (228k, frau Auto)
1996 Suburban K2500 (192k, 6.5 turbo diesel/4WD towmaster 10,000)
www.engineeringworks.biz
1987 300SDL junker 170k
1982 300SD junker, 265k

I've witnessed this myself with the diesels. It's nearly impossible to jump start them.

I conclude that the limitation is not the battery in the gassers, if it is fully charged. The limitation is getting the 700 available amps to the diesel battery. The problem is the cables and the clamps. I recently broke down and spent $80 on 2 gauge copper cables with 600 amp clamps. I'm still not convinced the points on the clamps are up to the task of 600 amps..........but, we'll see if I ever run the battery down.

wal mart...
they have a 1200 AMP booster box for $99 that I know for certain it will start a weak 85SD with a dead cel in the car's battery! I keep one in my TD, even though I've got a 135Amp alt, and a brand new battery in the car. the thing is just plain awesome. in addition to the 1200 amps starting power, it's got a 400Watt inverter and a air pump with inflation pump as well... not to mention the digital readout, and the 3 LED light on the thing!
it works!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Now you finally give up the goods...............the GD cables were $80. shipped...........

1200A is positively amazing.

yeah, when I bought mine, I posted about it here.

totally floored me that it's from walmart...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Is this the one you have? Looks like a great price considering the features and amperage.

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-XP2260-Instant-Portable-Source/dp/B004EIAADG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325562134&sr=8-1

__________________
1989 300CE

yup. that's the one. odd that the store mentions the cables and inverters "customers bought with this purchase" since both the male to male cord, and the inverter are part of the box...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I see CCA of only 185A.

This isn't going to start a diesel with a dead battery.

The 1200A rating doesn't jive with the CCA rating.

I can assure you, it will start the car with not only a dead battery, but a dead cel IN the dead battery!
I've hooked the clamps directly to battery cables with no battery in the car, and it starts the car!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Hmm...........wonder what the deal is with the CCA rating?

What was the ambient when you started it?