How to Roll Start A Car

If you've ever found yourself with a dead battery because you left the interior light on in your car - here's a great way to start the car right up BY YOURSELF! Note: this will only work for manual transmission vehicles.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• not jumper cables here!

1. Hopefully the car is parked on at least a slight incline, if not, you will need someone to help push the vehicle to a roll. This can be done forwards or backwards.

2. Have the key turned to the "ON" position. This enables the steering wheel.

3. Sitting in the drivers seat with the door open just enough, start trying to move the car. Yes, a car is very heavy - but gravity will allow you to get it moving. You'll need to do the next few steps in quick succession

4. Depress the clutch to the floor and shift into second gear.

5. Once the car is rolling enough, quickly let go of the clutch and the car will jerk forward and start running!

Tips & Warnings

• Be prepared to do everything with quick timing
• Get your battery tested and replace if needed
• This is not a method to repeat regularly
• You are not doing your clutch or transmission any favors
• This is only a tip to keep you from being stranded
• Don't try to roll start in any other gear but 2nd
• Not for automatic transmissions - keep cables with you!

[texasparky]

on 11/19/2009 How to Roll Start A Car is old school and I LOVE IT! Nowadays just mentioning such a thing makes me look over my shoulder to make sure the PC Police aren't there to remind me how dangerous that could be, how I might run over myself or a child, how I SHOULD call a tow truck or a mechanic and how starting my car in such a fashion is somehow bad for the environment!...Great job. I like this article!

[Jennywrites]

on 3/21/2009 This is so important to know.Thank you!