How to Push Start a Car

It is likely that most persons will experience a dead battery at some point during their lives, and knowing how to push start a car, in case you are not able to jump start it, will definitely prove to be a life saver.  A dead battery may be caused from many things such as leaving the lights on in your car, whether these lights are the headlights or those inside.  On the other end of things it may just be that the life of your battery has come to an end.

Manual Transmission

Push starting is a method that is involves starting your vehicle whether it is a motorcycle, car or bus, by using the motion of the vehicle to engage the manual transmission.  As a result this method will only work with vehicles that possess a manual transmission also known as a stick shift vehicle.  This will not work for automatic vehicles and actually trying to push start an automatic vehicle may result in damaging the transmission.  If the battery for your automatic vehicle is dead, then you will need to jump start the vehicle.

One Person Method

Push starting a vehicle is done best and is much safer when two or more persons are involved.  However it is still possible to push start the vehicle if you are the only person around.  Try to ensure that the car is located on a slope or a small hump and that there is enough room for you to push the car.

Next, turn off all accessories in the car, such as the radio, lamps and wipers and unplug all electronics.  Put the gear stick in the neutral position and turn the key to turn on the car and leave it there.  You will then need to position yourself at the driver’s door with the door open. Begin to push the car.

Be careful not to push the car too fast that it runs away from you.  As the car begins to roll down the slope, jump in, step on the clutch and put the car in the second gear.  Remove your foot from clutch when the car begins to pick up speed and is moving at approximately 8 to 16 km/h or 5 to 10 mph.  At this point the car should start.

Once the car has started replace your foot on the clutch to prevent the car from stalling.  Unfortunately if the car happens to stall then you will have to begin the process all over again.

Two or More Persons Method

If there are other persons around the process is very much the same with the task on the driver being much simpler.  The other persons will push the car, with you already in the car, having the clutch depressed and also being in the second gear.  You will then release the clutch quickly once the car has picked up momentum.

Push starting with two or more persons is much safer as it allows for greater control over the vehicle, in case you may need to brake suddenly or steer out of danger. It is advisable that you have the car running for a couple of minutes before turning the vehicle off to get the battery charged up again and functionally normally.

Photo Credits: antwerpenR

This post involves:

automatic vehicles, dead battery, how to push start a car, manual transmission, neutral position, stick shift

... and focuses on:

Battery, Car Tips, Manual Transmission Vehicle

Posted by How To Car on in Battery, Car Tips, Manual Transmission Vehicle. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.