jump start a diesel?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
May 31, 2006
Threads
2
Messages
10
I've been wondering what to do if the batteries go flat in the middle of nowhere.
Push starting seems like it wouldn't work because of the high compression
ratio unless you had a *really* steep hill

Any suggestions?
 
My 1st memories of a vehicle being tow started was in a timber mill when I was very very young;).
I looked out of the cab of dads truck at 5 am in winter and some men had a steam train towing an ancient tractor till it burst into life .
Just thought you might like to know it is possible:D
 
Last edited:
LOL--Okay--if I get stuck I'll look for a steam engine!

I was really wondering about times when we're out there by ourselves. I can barely push my
truck on a flat paved surface so I was curious. Always park on a hill in the wilderness I guess.
 
Your not going to be able to push start it like a civic. But yes on a hill or being pulled it should go.
 
How about two sets of jumpercables from donor battery(the guy who's jumping you) to each of your batteries(in parallel with common 12v ground)? Or disconnect your first battery, then charge each for a few minutes,rehook and see if she'll spin enough far a start. Or disconnect first battery,then use cables to series connect from the donor vehicle to your second battery for 24v. Soon as she starts, disconnect/reconnect first battery? Good question by the way,probably need this some day.
 
9 times out of ten its the low battery that's dead. Just boost to it. If it doesn't go. Use the boosting vehicle to charge each battery for a while. (no need to disconnect anything) You can push start a BJ60 if you can get the head warm. In the bush a couple of pots of boiling water poured over the head would do it. A visit from the ether bunny will too.
 
I fantasised about having an air start like a real truck. There are smaller units available with a universal fit but the size of the air tank kind of makes it impracticle.
One of the benefits is you could use your tyres as air reservoirs when the tank was empty and reinflate them when the emgine started:D

This means you would only need electricity for lighting and music and you would be the only one in the street mobile after a nuke blast:flipoff2:
 
hillbilly starter

I jumped mine several times before replacing the alternator. Make sure you're parked at the top of a decent hill. Second gear is best. In summer it starts almost instantly. Anything below minus 5 and you might need a tow.

84'BJ60 213 kms
 
We've got 22 vehicles in our workshop at the moment and 90% of them are diesels. Quite often the batteries go flat and we need to jump start them. If they won't jumpstart easily from my HZJ80 (dual batteries) using booster cables we push start them. Second gear with two guys pushing on flat ground is usually enough to do the trick. If a truck goes flat I break out the snatch strap and tow start it up the road.
 
boil the billy a few times before you try if you are by yourself, heats things up enough to reduce the revolutions required to start. also as much power as the glow plugs draw a flat battery may still work them a bit, its a good idea to still try and glow it before roll starting. It was summer, but i drove my bus everyday for 2 weeks with no starter motor, and as long as i glowed it and the car could roll by itself i never had a problem.
 
If your engine compression, and injection pump pressure
and nozzels are good than push starting a diesel is not
hard. They normally fire up on the first cylinder. Just a
little glow on the plugs, and a little push by two people
should be enough. Off course a slope would be helpfull,
but a lot of slope should not be needed, if your engine
is good.

You can always do a little test and see how you
vehicle performs.
 
amar said:
If your engine compression, and injection pump pressure
and nozzels are good than push starting a diesel is not
hard. They normally fire up on the first cylinder. Just a
little glow on the plugs, and a little push by two people
should be enough. Off course a slope would be helpfull,
but a lot of slope should not be needed, if your engine
is good.

You can always do a little test and see how you
vehicle performs.

Since this thread started Ive had to do this for a HZJ75 I looked at.
We glowed the plugs with what the battery could give then let it roll backwards (no human help) down a driveway with only a slight slope and let the clutch out when it had travelled 5 metres(16'6") and it started easily;)
 
This weekend our club went on its annual Canada Day run for four nights in the Rocky Mountain Foothills. The second to last day, Ratpuke and I decided to let the rest go wheeling while we lazed around camp, relaxing and tossing sticks into the river for the dogs. We agreed to pack up in late afternoon and meet the others at another campsite thirty miles away that night. Before the group left I checked to make sure we had battery left because I'd been running the freezer all weekend. It was good and the others went on their way. At the end of the day, however I was shocked to find dead batteries due to me leaving the key on while checking earlier. We were forced to try to push the rig or wait for the others to miss us and come for a mid night rescue. The trail was way too rough to push the truck fast enough to start so we decided we'd need to push it off the embankment of the river and get it started with one try. I had Ratpuke work the brake while I used the high lift to lift the lugs of a tire and thereby move the rig ahead, a quarter turn at a time, over the rough ground until it was steep enough that we could push. I was able to push it, jump in and pop the clutch before the tires got wet and I was very thankful to hear the rattle of a stinky diesel. I wouldn't have liked to have had to explain to my tired fellow wheelers why they found me nose down in the river.
 
9 times out of ten its the low battery that's dead. Just boost to it. If it doesn't go. Use the boosting vehicle to charge each battery for a while. (no need to disconnect anything) You can push start a BJ60 if you can get the head warm. In the bush a couple of pots of boiling water poured over the head would do it. A visit from the ether bunny will too.
How is one to determine which of the two batteries is the “Low” one or “high” one, or even the “Driver’s side” versus “Passenger side” battery if they’re both located on the same side? For example, I have a RHD 1993 KZJ78 Prado. How do I jump it from a 12V Honda CRV ( Wife’s car).
Thank you!
 
How is one to determine which of the two batteries is the “Low” one or “high” one, or even the “Driver’s side” versus “Passenger side” battery if they’re both located on the same side? For example, I have a RHD 1993 KZJ78 Prado. How do I jump it from a 12V Honda CRV ( Wife’s car).
Thank you!
Pretty sure all Prados are 12volt so there is no high or low battery. Just pick one and boost away.
 
Pretty sure all Prados are 12volt so there is no high or low battery. Just pick one and boost away.
Would I need to disconnect the battery being boosted? I’m assuming being “boosted” is different from being “charged”? My rig wouldn’t start because I left my lights on for oh...about four hours last night...
 
9 times out of ten its the low battery that's dead. Just boost to it. If it doesn't go. Use the boosting vehicle to charge each battery for a while. (no need to disconnect anything) You can push start a BJ60 if you can get the head warm. In the bush a couple of pots of boiling water poured over the head would do it. A visit from the ether bunny will too.
Glad this old thread got revived. Nowadays, there are pretty wicked lithium boosting batteries. I’ve got a AntiGravity Booster kit. It’s boosted my 12HT several times.
Lowenbrau - question though, as far as using ether. Where would you introduce the ether? Remove the throttle inlet housing? Unbolt it?
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom