Jump starting - a query

[Nobby Nomates]

This may be a very stupid question but can anyone please tell me if it is okay when jump starting a car to keep cranking the duff one until it fires i.e. do jump leads get hot over a prolonged period of use and/or can it do any damage to the good battery or the car it is attached to (with the engine of that car running). I am using a good quality set of jump leads.

My 2.2dti does not want to know on these cold mornings and jump starting is the easiest option, but since it can take up to a couple of minutes to get it to fire up I don't want to create yet another problem trying to solve the first one.

Thanks for any advice.

[VauxVeteran]

You must connect live to live and negative to the jumping car and an earth point on the flat one or you will spike the ecu.

As far as cranking goes, just rev the jumper to 1500 for a minute or two and then attempt to start the other.

[_ZS_]

Really depends on your jumpleads, and what you're jumping it off.

I tried jumping a totally frozen Laguna 2.2d off a Rover 414. Result? 1 set of melted jumpleads and two dead cars (even with the Rover going at 4000rpm the Laguna killed the battery).

I got it going after 20 mins of cranking using a beefier set of leads off the tractor (huge battery and 100A alternator)

[scottyd]

or get new glow plugs and a battery

[Nobby Nomates]

or get new glow plugs and a battery

Been there, done that and it still won't go. (Ditto leak off pipes and injector seals!!)

I'm using wife's vectra 2.2dti for the good battery. At least hers will start in the morning.

[_ZS_]

Wanted: Compression tester for 2.2DTi. Must be posted to Nobby's house.

[Nobby Nomates]

Wanted: Compression tester for 2.2DTi. Must be posted to Nobby's house.

But be quick - I could lose patience very soon and feel the urge to get a new car (Vectra of course).

[_ZS_]

I can recommend the 1.8VVT. Cheap to buy, cheap to run, more power than your 2.2DTi.

I'm getting 38mpg out of mine, 50/50 city/brisk motorway.