Is it possible to use e_Golf to jump start an ICE vehicle?

[Farallon5]

Just a general Good Samaritan question. Is this ok to do or could it damage the EV?

 

[Farallon5]

Is this too stupid of a question, or doesn't anyone have an answer?

 

[f1geek]

No, not a stupid question. Where's JoulesThief and his manual when we need him?

I haven't read the manual recently, but I don't see why you can't use the e-golf to jump start another car. The 12V battery is what jumps the other car and since the e-Golf has a 12V battery like any other car, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Have you checked the manual?

FYI, I keep my heavy gauge jumper cables in my e-Golf so I'm ready to receive or give a jump.

Update... I just read the manual and there is a section on jump starting. So it looks kosher.

 

[Farallon5]

Thanks for your reply. Should have checked the manual...turns out there are several pages of explanations with diagrams. The e-Golf apparently has a dedicated negative (-) jump start terminal. Looks like it is ok to use your e-Golf to jump another vehicle so long as you follow THE PROCEDURE IN THE MANUAL! :roll:

 

[NeilBlanchard]

Yes, you put jumper cables on the 12V battery - just like any ICE car, and you can jump start an ICE.

 

[JoulesThief]

Although the electronics on most German cars are sensitive.

Let the person in need call AAA for a jump, lest no good deed goes unpunished and you fry something very expenssve in your electronics, because there is something wrong or shorted out in their electronics or electrical system.

 

[f1geek]

Really, most German cars have "sensitive" electronics? What hogwash.

Don't blame your reluctance be a good Samaritan and to help out other people on the car.

If the manual says you can provide e a jump, why disagree? So, I am obligated to tell you, RTFM!

So sad, JoulesThief.

 

[JoulesThief]

Really, most German cars have "sensitive" electronics? What hogwash.

Don't blame your reluctance be a good Samaritan and to help out other people on the car.

If the manual says you can provide e a jump, why disagree? So, I am obligated to tell you, RTFM!

So sad, JoulesThief.

I've owned VW and Audi product long enough to know how sensitive their whole electrical system is. AAA service is cheap, don't be a cheapskate. If you are in a relatively new car, an AAA membership is priceless compared to the cost of the car. Due to the car not even having a spare tire, an AAA membership fee is a no brainer, let alone calling on your card, and let someone else get a jump start.

 

[f1geek]

I care more about helping others than ruining my car, so I guess according to you, I am cheapskate. I'll be a proud cheapskate, then.

FYI, I just gave someone a jump today. Guess what? Nothing bad happened. Something good happened: I helped someone. You might want to try it some day.

 

[RonDawg]

If you're worried about damaging your VW's "sensitive" electronics and don't want to pay for, and/or don't wait to wait for, AAA or other roadside assistance, you can always invest in a portable battery jump starter for under $100. Traditionally they've come in wet-cell like your car battery (they look like a bottle of antifreeze but are even heavier) but now they come in Lithium versions as well that are basically supersized versions of the portable batteries many people carry to charge their cell phones on the go.

I've never used the eGolf's battery to jump start a car, but I did use the Leaf's battery (similar size) to jump start the Audi.

 

[JoulesThief]

I care more about helping others than ruining my car, so I guess according to you, I am cheapskate. I'll be a proud cheapskate, then.

FYI, I just gave someone a jump today. Guess what? Nothing bad happened. Something good happened: I helped someone. You might want to try it some day.

Wait until you have your dashboard light up like a Christmas tree with MIL fault codes from a low battery.

People do heroin too, and nothing bad happens, until they end up dead. People hang glide too, or climb boulders, or bag peaks. Not always the best choice. It's your choice. But a dead car is the responsibility of the owner. Driving is a privilege, not a right. With the privilege come responsibilities. Like keeping your battery in good shape and replacing it before it dies. Like on an airplane. Don't shift the burden to others, that's socialistic. If you want to help others, educate them, so they know to replace their battery, before it's too late, or before it dies.
Throw a man a fish, and you have to throw him a fish, every single day. Teach him how to fish, and he can feed himself the rest of his life, on his own, independently.

 

[JoulesThief]

If you're worried about damaging your VW's "sensitive" electronics and don't want to pay for, and/or don't wait to wait for, AAA or other roadside assistance, you can always invest in a portable battery jump starter for under $100. Traditionally they've come in wet-cell like your car battery (they look like a bottle of antifreeze but are even heavier) but now they come in Lithium versions as well that are basically supersized versions of the portable batteries many people carry to charge their cell phones on the go.

I've never used the eGolf's battery to jump start a car, but I did use the Leaf's battery (similar size) to jump start the Audi.

I notice a new car in your signature, how do you like your alltrack? MPG's? Have you driven it in the canyons yet, the twisties, and how is the body roll with the elevated platform and more ground clearance? DSG or 6man or ?

 

[RonDawg]

I notice a new car in your signature, how do you like your alltrack? MPG's? Have you driven it in the canyons yet, the twisties, and how is the body roll with the elevated platform and more ground clearance? DSG or 6man or ?

Love it. I got it a few months ago and it's a DSG...the manual gearbox version didn't start showing up at dealerships until about a month or so ago.

I drove the car the entire length of the Angeles Crest Highway on the day I bought it (before the first snowfall). There's only a small increase in ride height from a standard Golf wagon so body roll isn't really a problem. It's not a GTI/Golf R but still handles pretty well.

I just got back from a road trip that included the Lake Tahoe region when they got a HUGE dump of snow. Last month I took it to Mammoth when they also got a huge amount of snowfall. Both times the car did just fine on the OEM tires (Falken "Sincera" all seasons) with no chains. 4Motion AWD got me up some steep inclines/deep snow that would have gotten me stuck on a 2WD car.

As far as fuel economy, EPA says it's 22/25/30. The worst I got was 24.2 MPG due to driving the steep grades up to Lake Tahoe and also due to having to drive through a considerable amount of snow and slush. Most of the time my mileage was 27-28 MPG with 29.8 being my best economy so far.

 

[JoulesThief]

I notice a new car in your signature, how do you like your alltrack? MPG's? Have you driven it in the canyons yet, the twisties, and how is the body roll with the elevated platform and more ground clearance? DSG or 6man or ?

Love it. I got it a few months ago and it's a DSG...the manual gearbox version didn't start showing up at dealerships until about a month or so ago.

I drove the car the entire length of the Angeles Crest Highway on the day I bought it (before the first snowfall). There's only a small increase in ride height from a standard Golf wagon so body roll isn't really a problem. It's not a GTI/Golf R but still handles pretty well.

I just got back from a road trip that included the Lake Tahoe region when they got a HUGE dump of snow. Last month I took it to Mammoth when they also got a huge amount of snowfall. Both times the car did just fine on the OEM tires (Falken "Sincera" all seasons) with no chains. 4Motion AWD got me up some steep inclines/deep snow that would have gotten me stuck on a 2WD car.

As far as fuel economy, EPA says it's 22/25/30. The worst I got was 24.2 MPG due to driving the steep grades up to Lake Tahoe and also due to having to drive through a considerable amount of snow and slush. Most of the time my mileage was 27-28 MPG with 29.8 being my best economy so far.

Great report on your new All track. Were you hauling butt, speed wise for the MPG's you got? That MPG is the same as my 5000# TDI Sport 2013 Touareg. 22/29. 37 MPGs has been the best in my Touareg, temps 75F, 60 mph

 

[RonDawg]

Were you hauling butt, speed wise for the MPG's you got? That MPG is the same as my 5000# TDI Sport 2013 Touareg. 22/29. 37 MPGs has been the best in my Touareg, temps 75F, 60 mph

The latter part of my trip took me all the way to Phoenix, and in Arizona the posted limits on many stretches of interstate is 75 MPH. I still got 28-29 MPG there.

 

[Deschodt]

These days I carry a $40-50 hard drive sized booster in all my cars.... It will start other cars even after 3-4-5 months of not being recharged (I know because I did it twice recently for a friend). It will also recharge your phone that day you forgot and can't count on the car to do so, and serve as a flashlight, etc. Much less risky than breaking out the long cables, you jsut plug that on their car !

 

[kirby]

These days I carry a $40-50 hard drive sized booster in all my cars.... It will start other cars even after 3-4-5 months of not being recharged (I know because I did it twice recently for a friend). It will also recharge your phone that day you forgot and can't count on the car to do so, and serve as a flashlight, etc. Much less risky than breaking out the long cables, you jsut plug that on their car !

Link to the model you have?