What? Jumpstarting another vehicle can possibly fry a car's computer control unit?

[freeradical]

Just touch the cars bumpers together. Oh wait, they're plastic now...

[Bimwad]

There are basic precautions that should be heeded during basic jump starting, and potential consequences if they're not. It's not rocket science, but instructions are provided for good reason.

I once tried to help an older couple who were fumbling their way around the battery in their car, with clearly visible and audible arcing, only to be rebuffed. So I left them to their own devices, and let the Schadenfreude god handle it.

The potential for damage to electronic control units has been around ever since they've been around. The usual recommended precaution was to turn on heavy loads like the headlights and blower fan to absorb any surge before disconnecting the jumper leads.

The portable power packs have allowed tow companies to dispense with the need to dispatch a wrecker for such calls (with their bumper mounted receptacles), and made the smaller, simpler "jump start response" vehicles serve the same purpose.

[Speedy]

freeradical wrote:
Just touch the cars bumpers together. Oh wait, they're plastic now...

I did that more than a few times when my cables couldn't reach between batteries back in the day when the cables were not bonded together.