How to Push-Start a Car With a Dead Battery

Cars with manual (stick shift) transmissions can be started even when the battery or the starter motor isn't working. Here's how you do it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure that the problem is either the battery or the starter: If the engine cranks ("rrr-rrr-rrr") when you turn the key, then the problem isn't the starter or the battery.

2. Plan to have at least one person sitting in the driver's seat and one person pushing. Mid-size and large cars require two or three people to push, depending on the strength of the people and whether or not the car is parked on an incline.

3. Turn off all accessories (radio, wipers, lamps).

4. Turn the key to the "on" position.

5. Depress the clutch pedal with your foot.

6. Put the transmission in first or second gear.

7. Release the hand brake and the foot brake.

8. Note that the people pushing need to get the car rolling as fast as they can. This works best down a hill or an incline.

9. Release the clutch pedal while giving the engine a little gas with the gas pedal once the car is moving about as fast as you can run. The engine should start.

Tips & Warnings

• Cars can be push-started going backwards, too! Just put the transmission in reverse instead of first or second and push the car backwards.
• A car with a completely dead battery often cannot be push-started.
• One person can push-start a car that is parked on a hill, but this can be very unsafe as you must jump in the car after getting it rolling, and there is a chance you may lose control of the car.
• Certain manufacturers of specific models do not recommend starting your car this way. Check your owner's manual for warnings.

Who Can Help Sponsored

on 1/27/2006 If you have access to a working car and a tow rope, but no jumper cables, you can tow the dead car along on a flat road then try to start it. This gets the car moving faster than just pushing and usually works better.

on 1/18/2006 Anybody that has push started a few different manual cars knows that 2nd or 3rd gear work much better. First gear will jerk the engine so hard that it could also rip the motor mounts.

I learned this mistake the first time I tried push-starting a car, I worked on it for 30 minutes, then some guy that was watching asked what gear we were using, when I said first, he told us to use 2nd or 3rd: The car started on the first try.

on 11/22/2005 Often times, just releasing the clutch while rolling will not start the car. It will violently jerk it forward. Instead, try to pop the clutch, which means to let it out very quickly, then immediately press it back in. The car should start much easier. You can also do this with motorcycles. Make sure you are pushing it in gear, not in neutral.

on 11/22/2005 When push starting a standard transmission vehicle, it must be in a gear before releasing the clutch. Usually second or third gear is best.

on 11/22/2005 If you can't get the car going very fast, high gears will turn the engine over easier. Remember, the transmission is working in reverse, so moving the car a foot in first gear spins the crank shaft more times and faster than if it was in fifth gear. If the car doesn't have enough momentum, first gear will stop the car cold when the clutch is popped. Fourth or fifth gear may let it turn over, just enough to start. Be sure to push the clutch back in once the car is running or the engine will just stall again.

Loose starters can damage themselves or the flywheel if left in that condition. Tighten them down, unless that is not possible, in that case remove them. You may want to disconnect the battery when removing the starter wire for safety, however it should only be live when the key is turned.