Jump Start Points

[A S R]

I’ve been wanting to install a pair of jump start connectors on my Fiat Ducato based Burstner Elegance for that one unexpected time the engine battery is dead. The battery is situated between the two front seats so not easy to get at in an emergency.
I was going to put a pair of wires from the battery out to an Anderson Lead socket mounted somewhere easy to get at but after a bit of easy research discovered that there’s a jump start point already built in to the Ducato engine bay!
That saved a lot of messing about. I didn’t think it would still be there after the Burstner conversion but it is. Connectors now all nicely cleaned up with a wire brush and some wire wool. Marvellous.
Now, all I need is a jump start booster pack thing with enough power to do the job!

 

[David and Sally]

Our Ducato has jump start points under the bonnet.

 

[Bailey58]

My 2013 Peugeot has, as I would think most modern vehicles.

 

[IRHP]

Fiat put them in. Why would Burstner remove them?

 

[Toady]

I’ve been wanting to install a pair of jump start connectors on my Fiat Ducato based Burstner Elegance for that one unexpected time the engine battery is dead. The battery is situated between the two front seats so not easy to get at in an emergency.
I was going to put a pair of wires from the battery out to an Anderson Lead socket mounted somewhere easy to get at but after a bit of easy research discovered that there’s a jump start point already built in to the Ducato engine bay!
That saved a lot of messing about. I didn’t think it would still be there after the Burstner conversion but it is. Connectors now all nicely cleaned up with a wire brush and some wire wool. Marvellous.
Now, all I need is a jump start booster pack thing with enough power to do the job!

Make sure you choose the right starter pack for your engine size.

I have used mine loads of times but only to help others. Not needed it myself yet.

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[A S R]

Fiat put them in. Why would Burstner remove them?

Because the front end is totally different from the standard Ducato based vans. In all honesty the Elegance is a frigging nightmare to do and mechanical work on. The access to the engine bay is horrendous. You can’t even see the oil dipstick. You have to do it by feel. To top up the water / screen wash / oil etc you need a funnel with a long tube on the bottom because you can’t get anything else in. Saying all that though, I’d never change it!

 

[IRHP]

Because the front end is totally different from the standard Ducato based vans. In all honesty the Elegance is a frigging nightmare to do and mechanical work on. The access to the engine bay is horrendous. You can’t even see the oil dipstick. You have to do it by feel. To top up the water / screen wash / oil etc you need a funnel with a long tube on the bottom because you can’t get anything else in. Saying all that though, I’d never change it!

Yep but the engine is still the same.

 

[bigwood]

I went down the Anderson socket route on one of my Landrovers. The battery was in the n/s seat box so I fitted the socket to the outside of the seat box.
I fitted an Anderson plug on one end of my jump leads enabling me to boost other vehicles or start mine without digging into the seat box.

 

[A S R]

That was going to be my plan but 1. I found out Fiat put jump start points on and 2. they were still there after the conversion was done. Saved me a job.

 

[Landy Andy]

I went down the Anderson socket route on one of my Landrovers. The battery was in the n/s seat box so I fitted the socket to the outside of the seat box.
I fitted an Anderson plug on one end of my jump leads enabling me to boost other vehicles or start mine without digging into the seat box.

Yep. Mine the same.

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[Emmit]

Watching this with interest as our Aviano seems to be the same.

 

[MB-B90]

Hi,
Any luck with knowing where the jump points are on the Aviano (mine is a 15 plate)? Just got to moho and mine is flat!…..or do you connect direct to battery In cab?

 

[A S R]

Is it a Fiat Ducato engine? The front end looks similar to my Elegance.

 

[MB-B90]

Yes

 

[A S R]

Ok, i‘m guessing it’s still the same so with the bonnet open there should be a black plastic cap on the right side at the top. I think it has a picture of a battery on it? If you pop the cap up there’s a contact point for the positive lead. Still on the right hand side but lower down there is ( on mine anyway ) a few earth wires bolted to the front of part of the metal body. One of those has about an inch or so of smooth metal on it. That’s the earth point for the negative jump lead.
If you want pictures I can do that but I’m in Scotland right now ( in my van ) but it’s piddling down!

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[MB-B90]

Thanks that’s a great help. I’ll be going back to the Moho in a bit so I’ll have a look. Did you disconnect the leads off the battery in the cab before jumping?

 

[acropolis22]

Presumably those "jump points" can be used to connect a tyre inflator or something that needs hooking direct to the battery rather than a cigar lighter point?

 

[A S R]

Nope. They are the “ official “ jump start points so everything should be fine.

One thing I was told, by a very experienced mechanic, was to turn the headlights on before you jump start it. Sounds weird I know but apparently it diverts some of the initial power surge so it doesn’t fry the sensitive electronics in the vehicle. Dunno how true it is but sort of makes sense I guess? I’m no expert so can’t argue about it. I do it now just out of habit and not had a problem so who knows!

 

[A S R]

Presumably those "jump points" can be used to connect a tyre inflator or something that needs hooking direct to the battery rather than a cigar lighter point?

Dunno, I guess so? Not really thought of it in that way before. If the power can go down I guess it can go back up? You’d need crocodile clips on whatever you use though. If it stops raining for 5 mins I’ll go pop my bonnet and take some photos.

 

[MB-B90]

Ok great.

Yes that does make sense from other battery charging posts I’ve read.
I’ll go and see if I can get her started.

Thanks again for your help

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[A S R]

Righty ho, just popped my head ( arms ) under the bonnet and took some pics. I hope you can make them out ok.

The top 2 are of the earth connector location and the bottom two show the location of the positive connectors position. The 3rd pic shows the black plastic cap so when you pop that open the positive connector is under there protected from accidental touches.
In the bottom pic you can see the earth and positive points.
Hope this is the same on yours.

 

[denisejoe]

Because the front end is totally different from the standard Ducato based vans. In all honesty the Elegance is a frigging nightmare to do and mechanical work on. The access to the engine bay is horrendous. You can’t even see the oil dipstick. You have to do it by feel. To top up the water / screen wash / oil etc you need a funnel with a long tube on the bottom because you can’t get anything else in. Saying all that though, I’d never change it!

the garage we use said its sometimes quicker to drop the engine to work on it than not
especially replacing pipes at rear of engine

 

[A S R]

I can well believe that! I had a new air con compressor fitted last year which couldn’t be easier being right at the bottom, underneath at the front but they had to fit one new pipe too! That was a nightmare apparently because it goes all the way round the back of the engine and right up to the top of the bulkhead! Glad I didn’t have to do it!

 

[A S R]

Ok great.

Yes that does make sense from other battery charging posts I’ve read.
I’ll go and see if I can get her started.

Thanks again for your help

So, any luck? We’re yours in the same place?

 

[meanders]

The access to the engine bay is horrendous. You can’t even see the oil dipstick. You have to do it by feel. To top up the water / screen wash / oil etc you need a funnel with a long tube on the bottom because you can’t get anything else in.

Just like that on our coachbuilt. Trying to pour anything in without an extended funnel is near impossible.

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[MB-B90]

So, any luck? We’re yours in the same place?

Hi ASR,

Sitting in it now. Nothing….been running car for 5 mins, not a thing.
I can only think that the battery is dead and finished?

 

[MB-B90]

I connected the earth to the 4th bolt on the right….that seems similar to yours