Is it ok to jump-start a modern car?

Merry Christmas to all!

Someone just said to me something I'd never heard before that you should never use jump leads on a modern car as it will fry the electrics/electronics. The first item turned up on a Google search seemed to confirm. I'm writing it to draw more people's attention to it because I doubt many are aware and also to ask do you have any recommendations as to what to do if your battery is flat. Is the donor car susceptible to damage? What is the situation if you use a battery power pack?

Finally I hope you all have a prosperous New Year

Cheers Philip

Philip Donegan (Ballina)

Dec 2016 Filed under: electrics

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Expert answer

Hi Philip,

The stories about jump-starting a car frying its 'delicate' electronics is absolute garbage. As long as you connect the two batteries together correctly (or, as you point out, a jump-start pack) then you should be fine. Not everything on the internet is true, remember...

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe