Dear Tom and Ray:

My husband and I enjoy your column each week. Thank you for the

fun and useful information. (Editor's note -- this letter may have been mistakenly sent to Tom and Ray.) Enclosed is an advertisement for the "Auto Starter," a portable battery that you carry in your car to use for jump-starting if your battery dies. It sounds almost too good to be true. We'd appreciate your evaluation. -- Nancy

Ray: Unfortunately, Nancy, your evaluation is pretty much right-on. This is no miracle cure for the dead battery.

Tom: According to Consumer Reports, the Auto Starter consists of a bunch of AA batteries. They're packaged in a box that is about 8 inches long and 2 inches on each side -- small enough to store in your glove box. The Auto Starter plugs into your cigarette lighter and is supposed to allow you to start your car when your battery dies.

Ray: And it might work -- under the best of conditions. If you leave your lights on for a couple of hours, and your battery is just weak but not dead ... and you live in Florida, it'll probably get you started. But if you left your lights on all night, or your battery is stone-cold dead, there's no way this thing is going to get you going.

Tom: Then there's the cost. It costs $56, which is a little less than a brand-new battery costs.

Ray: If you're really concerned about dead batteries, you'd be better off with a device made by Prestone called "Jump It." It costs about $90, but it's much more substantial than the Auto Starter. It's about the size of a gallon of milk and weighs a lot more, but it has a built-in handle. And it contains a serious 12- volt battery that WILL start all but the biggest engines, even when the battery is dead.

Tom: It's a little harder to use because it connects to the battery via cables rather than the cigarette lighter. It also needs to be recharged periodically (it's got a gauge on the side, so you'll know when). But it's much more likely to actually help you when your battery dies, Nancy.

In their pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" Tom and Ray break down the strategies for buying a car, so you can make the most of your money. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 2000 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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