Car Jump Starters have become essential tools for drivers, offering a convenient alternative to traditional jumper cables. They promise reliability in emergency situations, but real-world performance can vary significantly. This review delves into a user’s frustrating experience with three Anker A1501 car jump starters, highlighting potential concerns about their dependability.
The user, a long-time customer of Anker products, initially held the brand in high regard, especially for their cables and chargers. However, their experience with the A1501 jump starter model was far from satisfactory. Owning three of these devices for approximately four years, and diligently charging them every 3 to 6 months as recommended, they only needed to use them a handful of times. Unfortunately, when the need arose to jump-start a 2015 Toyota Rav 4 with a 2.5-liter engine, all three units failed to perform as expected.
The first unit struggled to even reach a green light indication, a signal that it was ready to jump-start. Despite this, an attempt was made, but the engine remained unresponsive. The unit then emitted continuous beeping sounds and displayed no battery bars, indicating a complete failure. The second unit showed similar issues, failing to consistently achieve a green light and ultimately not starting the car, followed by battery depletion and beeping. Even the third unit, which initially showed a green light, failed to crank the engine, eventually also leading to beeping and a zero battery level display.
Further attempts to troubleshoot, including recharging and holding the power button, proved futile. Interestingly, upon plugging them into a wall charger, all three units immediately showed full charge (5 bars), suggesting the battery indicators were initially accurate, and the issue was not simply a lack of charge. This experience points to a more fundamental problem with the units’ ability to deliver power when needed, despite appearing to be charged.
The user’s disappointment is palpable, especially considering their prior positive perception of Anker’s product quality and warranty. While acknowledging the reliability of Anker cables and other smaller accessories, this experience casts a shadow on their car jump starter line, particularly the A1501 model. The reviewer’s concern extends to friends who were recommended these jump starters as replacements for jumper cables, now worrying about their potential unreliability in roadside emergencies.
In stark contrast to the Anker units, the user successfully jump-started their vehicle using a jump starter from another popular brand, highlighting the variability in performance within the car jump starter market. This experience serves as a cautionary tale for those considering the Anker A1501 and underscores the importance of reliability when choosing a car jump starter. While the user hopes the Anker units can still function as power banks for phones and tablets, their primary purpose as dependable car jump starters appears to be compromised, leaving the user with a collection of expensive, yet ineffective, devices.
