How to Push Start a Car

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If you have a dead battery in a car equipped with a manual transmission, push starting it is one way you can get it running. Jump starting your car is still the safest and easiest way to get the engine running, but if you don’t have jumper cables or another car around, push starting can be accomplished with nothing more than the keys and a few friends to do the pushing. It’s important to note that this process can only be done with vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. Attempting to push or pop start a vehicle with an automatic transmission could result in serious damage to the vehicle.

Push Starting a Manual Car

Turn the key into the on position and release the parking break. Press on the clutch and brake at the same time, then release the brake as your friends start to push the car. Once the speedometer reaches 5mph, quickly release the clutch to engage the engine.

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Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Checking the Vehicle and Clearing a Path

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  1. Look for signs of a dead battery . Confirm that the battery is indeed dead by turning the key in the ignition and seeing how the car reacts. Common signs of a dead battery include a clicking noise from the starter, the engine turning over slowly, and the dashboard lights not coming on. [1]
    • If the dashboard lights come on but the starter clicks or turns over slowly, that’s because there is power left in the battery, but not enough to start the engine.
    • If nothing happens at all when you turn the key, the battery is completely dead.
    • If all the lights come on and the engine keeps trying to turn over without starting, the issue is not the battery. It’s more likely an issue with fuel delivery ( fuel pump , fuel filter ), an issue with airflow (intake, mass air flow sensor), or a problem with the vehicle’s ignition system.
  2. It’s not safe to push start a car on a steep slope because you may lose control of the vehicle if it fails to start. A slight incline may help get the car rolling, but anything steeper than that is too dangerous for you to attempt push starting a car. [2]
    • The car won’t have power steering or power brakes until the engine starts and is running, so never attempt to push start a car down a steep hill.
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  3. Because steering and braking will be difficult while push starting the car, move anything it could hit out of its path. Look for obstacles you may not be able to move as well. If there are trees or other immovable objects in the way, it is not safe to push start the vehicle. [3]
    • Make sure there’s nothing in front of the vehicle for at least 300 feet (91 m) so it can roll in a straight line.
    • Push the car slowly to re-orient it if the path in front of it is not clear.
  4. Turning the key to the on position will feel just like starting the car, but because the battery is dead, the engine won’t start. This unlocks the steering wheel and will allow you to steer. [4]
    • The key must be in the “on” position when you push start it. Otherwise, the engine won’t start when you drop the clutch.
    • The key will unlock the steering wheel, but remember that you will have no power steering until the engine is running.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Engaging the Engine

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  1. Second gear is the easiest gear to push start in, though you could potentially use first or third if there’s a problem with second gear in your car. Press the clutch with your left foot and then slide the gear selector all the way to the left and back to place it in second gear. [5]
    • First gear has a lot of torque, so the vehicle could buck unexpectedly if you use it instead of second gear.
    • You need to achieve a higher speed to push start the vehicle in third gear than you do in second.
  2. Depending on your car, the parking brake will either be a peddle located near your left knee while in the driver’s seat or a handle in the center console. Press the clutch with your left foot and the brake with your right after you release the parking brake. [6]
    • If you are unsure of where to find the parking brake, refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.
    • If you are on a slope, be sure to hold the brake pedal down as you release the parking brake to prevent rolling.
  3. Make sure your friends push on the back of the vehicle in a safe spot like the bumper or the trunk lid rather than the spoiler or back window. Take your right foot off of the brake pedal as they begin to push the car. [7]
    • Tail lights, spoilers, fins, and windows are not safe places to push on.
    • One person can push most cars fast enough to get them started, but a few friends will make it easier.
  4. As your friends push, focus on keeping the car moving straight and on the speedometer. Once the car is rolling at 5 mph (8 km/h) or faster, pull your left foot off of the clutch abruptly (commonly called “dropping” it). That will connect the engine’s crankshaft to the spinning wheels through the transmission and force the engine to begin turning. [8]
    • The faster you’re moving, the more likely the engine is to start when you drop the clutch.
    • The engine will buck and sputter as it starts.
    • You don’t need to give the engine any gas, but may choose to. Remember that doing so will make the engine and car both accelerate.
  5. Front wheel drive cars are prone to torque steer, which is when the engine’s torque turning the wheels also turns the steering wheel to one side. Keep a tight grip on the wheel to prevent the car from changing direction. [9]
    • Torque steer happens only briefly as the engine tries to turn the wheels faster than they’re already turning.
    • Torque steer will just feel like a short jerk in the wheel as the engine starts.
  6. If the engine failed to start but the car is still rolling, press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor and then drop it again. Have your friends keep pushing to help bring up the speed as you do. [10]
    • If the engine fails to start, it’s likely because you weren’t rolling fast enough.
    • Repeat these steps until the engine starts up when you drop the clutch.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Stopping and Charging the Battery

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  1. Once the engine starts, the alternator produces the electrical charge it needs to keep running. Press the clutch back to the floor with your left foot so you stop accelerating. [11]
    • With your foot on the clutch, the engine’s RPMs (Revolutions Per Minute) will drop down to an idle.
    • The alternator will recharge the battery and keep the engine running.
  2. Keep your foot pressed firmly on the clutch as you push the gear selector forward into the neutral position. This takes the car out of gear. Then use your right foot to apply the brakes and bring the car to a stop. [12]
    • You can take your left foot off of the clutch once the car is in neutral.
    • Do not shut off the car once you stop.
  3. It will take the alternator a while to recharge the battery sufficiently, so leave the engine running once you stop. If the lights were on but the starter was just sluggish, 15 minutes will probably do. However, if the battery was too dead even to turn the lights on, 30 minutes to an hour might be more appropriate. [13]
    • You can drive the vehicle around while it recharges the battery.
    • If you shut the engine off before the battery is charged enough to start it again, you’ll have to start over.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Why do I have to push start my car?
    Tom Eisenberg
    Auto Technician
    Tom Eisenberg is the Owner and General Manager of West Coast Tires & Service in Los Angeles, California, a family-owned AAA-approved and certified auto shop. Tom has over 10 years of experience in the auto industry. Modern Tire Dealer Magazine voted his shop one of the Best 10 Operations in the Country.
    Tom Eisenberg
    Auto Technician
    Expert Answer
    Think of the engine as an airplane propeller. To push start a car, you have to get the engine spinning. Start with the car in gear and then push the car to move the tires, which will cause the engine to rotate. When the engine spins fast enough, just like on an airplane, it'll run by itself.
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      Video

      Tips

      • Release the clutch very quickly; if you ease it out, your engine will not start.
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      • Before you try this method, test the battery with a multimeter - every car owner needs a cheap multimeter. If the voltage is adequate, the problem could be your starter. Test to see if your starter is just stuck. Look in your Owner's Manual to find out where it is. You may need to jack up the car; learn how to do that safely first. Hit the starter with a hammer a few times and then see if it starts. If not, drive to the local auto parts store and get a new one. They're very easy to replace yourself.
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      • If this doesn't work the first time, give it another shot and let it get going a little faster before you drop the clutch.
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      Warnings

      • Make sure your friends stay away from the wheels and tires of the vehicle as they push.
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      • When your engine is not running, you don't have power brakes or power steering so controlling the vehicle may be difficult, as the steering wheel and brake pedal will be "hard" and you'll have to use more force.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/2rVt-TDqmSc?t=86
      2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20071104031917/http://www.itis.com.my/itis/driving-tips-workshops-5.jsp
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/1pj4GY_7q8w?t=29s
      4. ↑ https://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1087373_how-to-push-roll-start-a-car
      5. ↑ https://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1087373_how-to-push-roll-start-a-car
      6. ↑ https://www.wikimotors.org/what-is-a-push-start.htm
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/1pj4GY_7q8w?t=29s
      8. ↑ https://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1087373_how-to-push-roll-start-a-car
      9. ↑ https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/torque-steer-what-is-it-and-why-it-matters-or-doesnt/
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/V9sJRXncHr0?t=83
      2. ↑ https://www.howacarworks.com/basics/how-the-charging-system-works
      3. ↑ https://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1087373_how-to-push-roll-start-a-car
      4. ↑ https://www.howacarworks.com/basics/how-the-charging-system-works

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you need to push start a manual car, insert the key in the ignition and turn it to the on position. Press down the clutch with your left foot and slide the gear selector all the way to the left, then down toward you to put it in second gear. Release the parking brake and press the brake and clutch pedals down, then release the brake as your friends start to push the car. When the speedometer reaches 5 mph, pull your left foot abruptly off the clutch. If the car doesn’t start, press the clutch all the way to the floor and try it again. Keep reading to learn how to charge the battery once the car is running!

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