jumpstarting a diesel truck?

[vash]

i have done it maybe 2-3 times. last time was last week...in the boonies. my tacoma wouldnt do it. we had to thread another truck in between trees, and jump the second battery.

what if you only had one truck or one set of cables? is one truck battery for the glow plugs, and the other for the starter?

maybe set the cables on one battery for awhile, and then to the other battery?

need some tips for my brain's arsenal of knowledge. bro's battery died when he left a dome light on.

[porsche4life]

Huh... I don't think we've ever had to jump ours... We always use ours to jump with...


I would have thought just one would do it...

[VINMAN]

Ive jumped my diesel with my 944. One truck should do the job

[peppy]

Originally Posted by vash

maybe set the cables on one battery for awhile, and then to the other battery?

+1 on this idea. If it is warm out a decent battery should crank it up.

[Dueller]

a) High quality cables...not wimpy walmart models

b) Preferably two cars especially if diesel batteries are really dead...one to each battery

c) Alternatively, two sets of cables running from running car to each of diesel batteries.

d) If only one set of cables, run to drivers side battery and let it charge that battery for 15 minutes then switch to passenger side battery (closest to starter) and try to start after letting that battery charge for 5+ minutes.

[trekkor]

Diesels have very high compression engines.

It takes a lot of cranking amps to turn those big motors.


KT

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Diesels have very high compression engines.

It takes a lot of cranking amps to turn those big motors.


KT

And heating the glow plugs draws tremendous amps as well.

[gtc]

The batteries should be wired in parallel, so they would both be charging when you are jumping one.
When jumping my friend's Cummins Ram a while back, it did take a bit longer than normal to charge up the batteries enough to start the truck.

[vash]

Originally Posted by gtc

The batteries should be wired in parallel, .

i didnt know this..i thought each battery powered a diff system..or one was just for the glow plugs.

[trekkor]

I can't recall exactly, but I believe the two ginormous batteries in my truck combine to produce around 1500-1800 CCA's.


KT

[notfarnow]

If the battery is dead flat, I'd try to get it to soak up a charge before trying to start it.

I have two 900 CCA batteries in my Frankendiesel 4runner. I could friggin weld with those things

[wreckersteve]

We have hooked right to the starter. Works well on bigger trucks that you can get to the starter. You buy pass all the bs stuff. The car you are using to jump, run the idle up. It will also help. When the other vehicle is craking it wont draw it down so easy.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by vash

i have done it maybe 2-3 times. last time was last week...in the boonies. my tacoma wouldnt do it. we had to thread another truck in between trees, and jump the second battery.

what if you only had one truck or one set of cables? is one truck battery for the glow plugs, and the other for the starter?

maybe set the cables on one battery for awhile, and then to the other battery?

need some tips for my brain's arsenal of knowledge. bro's battery died when he left a dome light on.

You could use a second set of cables to hook to the 2 batteries, either in series or in parallel.

[Joeaksa]

If you have one set of jumper cables, and the trucks have metal bumpers, put the two bumpers together to make the ground connection, then run from the pos terminal on the battery to both positive terminals on the truck.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

If you have one set of jumper cables, and the trucks have metal bumpers, put the two bumpers together to make the ground connection, then run from the pos terminal on the battery to both positive terminals on the truck.

Then when the bumpers are firmly welded together use truck 1 to drag truck 2.

[Brian 162]

If there is a way to get power to the truck you could plug in the block heater overnight while charging the batteries. Or what they do in the bush light a small fire under the oil pan to heat the oil so it will crank easier.
My work vehicle has a CAT diesel and on cold days if it's not plugged in the night before it barely starts in the morning.
What type of truck is stranded?

[911Rob]

Tow truck jump start works good - commercial grade

Leave the truck running and charging the battery for an hour. If it's cold out, its ugly.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

You could use a second set of cables to hook to the 2 batteries, either in series or in parallel.

Hmmm, how many volts do you want?

JR

[aigel]

The key are some fat cables (2 gauge) and soaking the batteries for 15 minutes with the engine of the charging vehicle running. Your bro needs to get some HD cables and put them in his truck.

No current drain shut off on your bro's truck? What year? The 97 and up Fords do this - a real battery saver.

George

[vash]

yea..2006 duramax. it was dead dead. left the dome lights on overnight+. fun wheeling my tacoma into position. he had pulled his pop up trailer straight in..no pushing, backing it out. we had to get to him. he has some killer jumper cables. mine are some brandnew, early 70's (found them new in a box in attic) heavy gauge, super long SEARS cables. mine are better than his, but he aint getting them. 16' footers help. both cables are 16'.

thanks for all the replies. i am not sure about snipes. one good battery to two dead ones..not sure about the "in series" schematic.

i work in the construction biz. i see contractors do the craziest jumpstarts. with welders, generators...crazy battery explosions, on big earthmoving equipment. that is why i asked..