Can you mess up your car by giving someone a jump?
Yes, it is possible to damage either or both of the cars. There’s a risk of serious overvoltage when jump-starting and that can damage any electronic equipment and even headlights that are on during the procedure.
What happens if you mess up jump-starting a car?
Jumping your own vehicle can cause damage to the car if not done correctly. Vehicles today are built with more electronics inside than ever before. Improperly jumping your car can cause harm to these electronics. Placing the clamps on the wrong terminals can short circuit or even damage parts beyond repair.
Can a Prius jumpstart another car?
In general, hybrid vehicles can be jump-started just like a regular car with a conventional gas engine. A lot of Toyota hybrid models, like the Prius, feature a jump-start terminal under the hood, which you should use instead of the 12-volt battery.
Where do you ground jumper cables on a Prius?
Find the fuse box under the hood of your Prius. You’ll find the jump start terminal beneath the cover. Connect the red (positive) jumper cable to the positive terminal in your car. Go over to the assisting vehicle, and connect the other end of the red cable to their own positive terminal.
What happens if you jump start another car with a Prius?
If you jump start a Prius or with a Prius incorrectly, it will be a $4000 repair, so choose wisely. If you must jump start a Prius, use a Jump Pack, that halves the number of cables to attach incorrectly. Then to jump start other cars, you hand them the jump pack and you have no risk.
Can a Prius 12V battery start another car?
The Prius 12V battery is NOT a “starting” battery, meaning it is not designed to deliver really high currents. You would shorten the battery’s life using it to start another car. The Prius draws 50Amp pulses from it when you press the start button. This is from the electronics, not the engine “starter”.
Is it possible to jump start another car?
Call AAA and let them do it. While jumping a non-hybrid is possible (using the method Jimbo mentions at post #4 — don’t crank the other car while the jumpers are in place), the risks are still too high for me.