Couldn't Bump Start!

[ngt]

Is there any reason why I couldn't bump start my car?? Went on hols and couldn't start it when came back. Live at top of steep hill and tried about 10 times! Is it something to do with the immobiliser (I did press the button on alarm every time) or that there was no power to the fuel pump? Finally put jump leads on it and it started 1st time.

[Corin Denton]

You shouldn't bump start it anyway because of the cats.

[.Mark]

Corin Denton said:

You shouldn't bump start it anyway because of the cats.

It can damage the cats as it's possible neat petrol gets through the cylinder out the exhaust value and in to the pre-cat where it can deteriorate the material within. This means the knacked old pre-cat will require removing. So good news there then

[ngt]

Ok thanks... I thought the CATs damage was a bit of an old wives tale!!!!

[GreenV8S]

I don't follow the damaged cats theory either. What's the difference between turning the engine over on the starter, and turning it over by pushing the car? In either case if it doesn't fire up you have unburnt fuel in the cylinders which will find its way into the exhaust.

[jimothy]

I had a problem with my starter motor. I didn't try bump starting it cos the manual said not to. Called the AA, got it taken down to Fernhurst. First thing they did is bump start it.

I mentioned what it said in the manual and Brian likened what I had read to the post digestion waste of a male cow...

[PeterC]

If the battery was that flat, then surely the alarm/immobiliser would not have any juice either and would probably need resetting anyway?

This would mean that simply bump starting would be unlikely to work, you would need jump leads connected to a fully charged battery.