can i jumpstart
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From: Grand Rapids, Mi

can i jump start a v8 van with my bonneville? my work van has a dieing battery and im waiting for my work to buy it a new battery untill that time i have to work on saturday morning and im pretty sure its gonna be dead so i wanna jump start it with my bonne. will it work?
Originally Posted by L27Buick
can i jump start a v8 van with my bonneville? my work van has a dieing battery and im waiting for my work to buy it a new battery untill that time i have to work on saturday morning and im pretty sure its gonna be dead so i wanna jump start it with my bonne. will it work?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,244
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From: Grand Rapids, Mi

nope its a 1998 chevy full size work van. 350 with 205,000 miles. still drive better then other van in the fleet with less miles. mine the oldest van the company owns.
i asked cuz i would think a bigger motor would over draw a smaller motor.
i asked cuz i would think a bigger motor would over draw a smaller motor.
Originally Posted by wjcollier07
naw...i once ressurected an 88 T-bird that hadnt run in over 5 years with my 90 Electra'* LN3...so i dont think you should have any sort of problem!
and jumped a V8 with it..no problem for the ol' 3800 to do it.
I'm no electrician, but is it even dependent on the comparative sizes of the motors?
I would think it has more to do with the regulated voltage of your alternator and the charging rate it is able to supply to the dead battery while still maintaining charge to your system. You could have a tiny motor, but if you had a good alternator you would have no worries.
Electrical guys, please correct me if I'm wrong.
I would think it has more to do with the regulated voltage of your alternator and the charging rate it is able to supply to the dead battery while still maintaining charge to your system. You could have a tiny motor, but if you had a good alternator you would have no worries.
Electrical guys, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Originally Posted by big_news_1
I'm no electrician, but is it even dependent on the comparative sizes of the motors?
It'* not about the voltage or motor size. It'* about the current in amps that your alternator produces. A motorcycle can jumpstart a big block if it charges long enough.
Let it idle-charge for about 5 minutes, then crank.
My 160 amp alternator will crank any car immediately, but a 105 amp alternator on an SE will have to charge first for a couple minutes.
Let it idle-charge for about 5 minutes, then crank.
My 160 amp alternator will crank any car immediately, but a 105 amp alternator on an SE will have to charge first for a couple minutes.


