How to push start a manual

If your car battery dies on you what would you do? Learn how to start a manual car with a dead battery.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• manual transmission
• friends or a hill
• car keys

1. Know why your car won't start. This can be very obvious you may just have walked outside to find your headlights left on. Other reasons to push start include extreme cold(I'm looking at you Canada) or an old or defective battery. Find the source of the problem first.

2. Turn off all things that drain electricity in your car. This step is easier on older cars. Turn off the radio, turn off the lights, keep your doors shut and if possible remove the fuse for your interior lights.

3. Make sure you have enough space to push the car up to the speed you need. Remember you will have to climb into the car if you push it and you will probably stall it your first try (just like learning to drive stick) experienced drivers often can do it in less then a car length starting on a hill.

4. You need to build up lots of potential energy. With the car out of gear either get it rolling down a hill or have your friends help you push it up to the required speed. The faster the better because higher speeds will let you use second or third gear to turn your engine (these gears allow the engine to turn slower giving you a mechanical advantage)

5. Make sure the key is in the run or on position.

6. Push the clutch in (while still rolling) and select the gear to use. Use one gear higher then you would normally use at the speed you are moving. Don't use overdrive (usually your top gear check owners manual)

7. Release the clutch and the car should slow then release as you hear the engine start to turn. It is an odd sensation the first time but you should use the clutch in the same way you would if you were using the engine to move the car (rather then the car to move the engine)

8. 
   someplace i can fix my car

   Run the car with as little power as possible. If possible leave lights off. Leave the radio off. A manual engine can run on almost no power but your electrical system will give everything it has to keep your lights on one more second. It's not uncommon to see a car that will run fine without a fully working alternator and an almost dead battery but die the moment the radio is turned on(with the radio still playing of course) drive straight to someplace you can fix your car.

Tips & Warnings

• The lighter the car the easier it is to push
• Tears will often only make people laugh at you
• Smaller engines are easier to turn over but take longer to charge batteries
• Push starting will push against your transmission in a funny way and it may or may not be bad for your car moderation is key
• Look where you are going
• Pushing your car with your buddies car is an easy way to get it moving and an even easier way to break something be careful
• If it is cold outside keep warm frostbite is just as dangerous on the way home as it was back in that parking lot

[emmyskater13]

on 7/10/2009 False, I have a 2002 Mazda RX8, our starter just went out and it push starts fine, so maybe it's just your car, or just Hondas, don't be so quick to generalize.

[91preludesi]

on 9/11/2008 You failed to mention that cars after a certain date can't be started this way. Get in a '98 manual Civic for example, put it in neutral, and try to start the car...it won't start. There is a safety switch that will not energize the starter unless the clutch is pushed in. Therefore this method only works on older cars.