this year was the first in a while. With it being so cold for so long (we had a whole week where the high was below 0) we had to jump my wife's car 2 times. So it'll be great for the convenience.
To those that say AAA is the way, I don't know about your state. But I had to get a jump once and was told that all the shops in your area are busy the soonest we can get someone to you is 3 hours and they are out of your service area traveling 2 hours to you so there is additional $55 charge. Shit I'll get my own damn jump pack for this now.
Once in the last decade. Middle of a blizzard in northern Minnesota, and I was working nights. So it got a bit too cold for my car. Fortunately, boss was an apocalypse-prep nut, so he had a gas-powered generator in his trunk. Because gas will be readily available after a total infrastructure collapse.
I would have said "never [with my current car]" except that I did need one a few months ago. The starter went bad and was drawing too many amps from the battery, damaging the battery.
My previous car needed a jump when, while on an out-of-state road trip, the factory battery finally gave up the ghost and broke inside.
Previous to that, while driving my dad's car, I stopped for gas. When I started the engine up again, there was a pop and everything went dark. The factory battery gave up the ghost and split open.
It seems that every car I drive will sooner or later will have a battery-related issue requiring a jump-start.
Previous truck had the voltage regulator function built into the main engine computer; that meant that when the VR failed, and the alternator stopped putting out juice, you had to pay $400+ to replace the computer instead of $35-40 to replace the regulator; no way I could afford that.. Until I found a way to bypass the computer (using a solid state regulator from the '70s and some harness hacking) I got stuck 4 times, and kept a battery charger with me when I drove to work. Of course the check engine light stayed on because the internal VR was dead so I eventually ended up having to buy a (used, $200) computer to pass emissions.
Why did a VR failure cause an emission pass failure? Because in ill-annoy at the time any malfunction indication was grounds for failure even if it was totally unrelated to emissions. Whole lotta underhanded money-passing going on between the private contracted emissions company and the government, kinda the late '90s version of the red light cameras now.
I have a very short commute to my train station and, as a result, the battery rarely gets charged during the drive. This tends to be less of an issue in the summer, but during very cold, winter months, my battery will fail unless I take precautions. Those range from starting the car ten minutes before I leave, to a weekly refresh/recharge operation in my garage.
A similar device to the one offered today, saved my bacon and got me started in sub-twenty degree weather. The last time I needed it, however, it was also dead (I had the flu the week before and keeping it charged had slipped my mind). I replaced it accordingly, as I still believe in these in general. My new unit can be recharged via a DC plug, which can stay connected while in the car, but I continue to give it a full recharge every 30 days regardless.
Yeah I got nothing tonight . . . too drunk. But still first motherfuckers!
Rarely. And for that I have AAA.
@Headly AAA batteries are only about 1.5 volts. How doess that jump start ya? ;)
@eyewerks you put them in series in a "banana bunker" and insert gently.
Forget the car, its my wife that needs it....
Every so often, mostly because I need to get a new battery, luckily I have the jump starter battery meh sold a few months back, works like a charm
I think in the last 15 years, I've needed a jump 3 times that I can remember.
When I was young and dumb: all.the.time.
New "responsible" old me: about once every few years
(Although really it's just that now I work from home, so I have far fewer opportunities to be a dumbass.)
I carry jumper cables, and have never used them to jump my own vehicle. But I have used them to jump many others' vehicles. I love to feel useful.
this year was the first in a while. With it being so cold for so long (we had a whole week where the high was below 0) we had to jump my wife's car 2 times. So it'll be great for the convenience.
To those that say AAA is the way, I don't know about your state. But I had to get a jump once and was told that all the shops in your area are busy the soonest we can get someone to you is 3 hours and they are out of your service area traveling 2 hours to you so there is additional $55 charge. Shit I'll get my own damn jump pack for this now.
A few times when I forget to turn off my lights.
Hyundai decided to let you leave your running/side lights on even if the engine is off and key is removed with no warning chime or light on dash.
Once in the last decade. Middle of a blizzard in northern Minnesota, and I was working nights. So it got a bit too cold for my car. Fortunately, boss was an apocalypse-prep nut, so he had a gas-powered generator in his trunk. Because gas will be readily available after a total infrastructure collapse.
Never on this car. The previous car I had (for 12 years) only needed battery replacement twice, never a jump.
I have never needed a jump.*
*with my current car.
I would have said "never [with my current car]" except that I did need one a few months ago. The starter went bad and was drawing too many amps from the battery, damaging the battery.
My previous car needed a jump when, while on an out-of-state road trip, the factory battery finally gave up the ghost and broke inside.
Previous to that, while driving my dad's car, I stopped for gas. When I started the engine up again, there was a pop and everything went dark. The factory battery gave up the ghost and split open.
It seems that every car I drive will sooner or later will have a battery-related issue requiring a jump-start.
had to get new battery, and have frequent low tires
Previous truck had the voltage regulator function built into the main engine computer; that meant that when the VR failed, and the alternator stopped putting out juice, you had to pay $400+ to replace the computer instead of $35-40 to replace the regulator; no way I could afford that.. Until I found a way to bypass the computer (using a solid state regulator from the '70s and some harness hacking) I got stuck 4 times, and kept a battery charger with me when I drove to work. Of course the check engine light stayed on because the internal VR was dead so I eventually ended up having to buy a (used, $200) computer to pass emissions.
Why did a VR failure cause an emission pass failure? Because in ill-annoy at the time any malfunction indication was grounds for failure even if it was totally unrelated to emissions. Whole lotta underhanded money-passing going on between the private contracted emissions company and the government, kinda the late '90s version of the red light cameras now.
I have a very short commute to my train station and, as a result, the battery rarely gets charged during the drive. This tends to be less of an issue in the summer, but during very cold, winter months, my battery will fail unless I take precautions. Those range from starting the car ten minutes before I leave, to a weekly refresh/recharge operation in my garage.
A similar device to the one offered today, saved my bacon and got me started in sub-twenty degree weather. The last time I needed it, however, it was also dead (I had the flu the week before and keeping it charged had slipped my mind). I replaced it accordingly, as I still believe in these in general. My new unit can be recharged via a DC plug, which can stay connected while in the car, but I continue to give it a full recharge every 30 days regardless.
I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner.
