Comments on: How to Push-Start a Car With a Dead Battery

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.

on 11/22/2005 If you have a fuel injected automobile, you must have enough voltage in the battery to run the electronics. Otherwise, you might as well push the car home.

on 11/22/2005 Sometimes a battery you may think is dead will still have some power, but not enough to start the car. If the engine turns over slowly, try push-starting the car. If the engine sounds energetic and quick (like it would sound on a normal start) but still doesn't start, it means there's a different problem.

on 11/22/2005 I work at a parts store and helped try to push-start a Jeep. The battery was good; we couldn't get it to start. Upon checking the starter bolts and tightening them, the Jeep started with no problem. I lost the sale of a starter, but made a new customer.

on 11/22/2005 If the battery is completely dead and the car has an alternator, you cannot push-start it. There must be some charge left there for the spark plugs.