When a jumpstart goes wrong? Safety Question

Neighbor tried jumping my wife’s ‘06 Nissan Altima, we left it for 10 minutes and came back and the cables had melted through the headlight of both cars and some of the bumper. I wasn’t there but thankfully they stopped their car and were able to disconnect the cables without incident. We noticed after there had been mice living in around her engine from the mouse poop, minimum the last two weeks. What causes jumper cables to do this? Something a rodent may have chewed? Definitely an issue with my wife’s car. Our poor neighbors have a newish midsized suv. My wife has also had constant issues starting her car, even with a new battery I got a year or two ago. Anyone seen this before?

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u/YOOOOOOOOOOT Dec 31 '23

For maybe 30 seconds, there is no reason to walk away whilst jumping a car

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u/somerandomdude419 Jan 01 '24

I’ve had some batteries take 2-5 minutes but not a Nissan Altima lol

3

u/YOOOOOOOOOOT Jan 01 '24

Still not enough time to warrent walking away

1

u/somerandomdude419 Jan 01 '24

True that, I would always watch the cables and the car running. Thats crazy they even make jumper cables this weak, not insulated well enough

1

u/Tylerdirtyn Jan 01 '24

For 30 seconds? Takes 5 minutes to jump my 07 Civic with the 2017 Accord and 4 gauge cables. I don't just talk on things I don't know about. You guys jumping stuff instantly must have HO alternators and huge batteries, that's not standard equipment.