how not to bump / jump start
Discussion
some of my idiotic mates were stuck in a 4x4 in town the other week. They could not get the car start so rang a mate. Luckily they were on a hill so he told them to put it in gear, turn the ignition on etc.
He drove down to help as he knew how bad they were with cars....
When he got there the car was at the bottom of the hill, half into the main road at the bottom - clogging up all the traffic. One of the lads had insisted that the car had to be in REVERSE when bump starting! So they were coasting up to about 15 mph (steep hill) and then dumping the clutch - IN REVERSE!!! they said it was making a weird noise!!!!
Eventually, stuck at the bottom of the hill, blocking rush hour traffic, my mate finally got there. He gave them a jump, but not before one of them kept insisting that, "the batteries go red to black, black to red"!!!! He wouldnt give up until he shorted the battieres and the plastic cables started top melt. only then did he swap them over.....but still insisted that he was right on both the bump starting methodology and red/black jump starting madness!
He drove down to help as he knew how bad they were with cars....
When he got there the car was at the bottom of the hill, half into the main road at the bottom - clogging up all the traffic. One of the lads had insisted that the car had to be in REVERSE when bump starting! So they were coasting up to about 15 mph (steep hill) and then dumping the clutch - IN REVERSE!!! they said it was making a weird noise!!!!
Eventually, stuck at the bottom of the hill, blocking rush hour traffic, my mate finally got there. He gave them a jump, but not before one of them kept insisting that, "the batteries go red to black, black to red"!!!! He wouldnt give up until he shorted the battieres and the plastic cables started top melt. only then did he swap them over.....but still insisted that he was right on both the bump starting methodology and red/black jump starting madness!
I helped (with several mates) try to bump start a girls car at college many decades ago (she'd left her lights on) - damn near pushed it all they way round the Chelmsford one way system - we were completely knackered and amazed it just wouldn't start - just to make sure I asked her what she was doing as we pushed
She clicked the ignition switch from on to start and off again and continued to do so repeatedly...........
Once we all had stopped laughing we got the car started in 10 yrds
She clicked the ignition switch from on to start and off again and continued to do so repeatedly...........
Once we all had stopped laughing we got the car started in 10 yrds
That's the way I read it - not exactly forward thinking on their part. 
I love explaining how to bump start cars to people. Because 99.999% of the time, they say they understand, and then 10 minutes later when they've got the whole street out to help them push the car, they phone you back, and ask if you told them how to do it properly.
Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
I once came to the aid of a damsel in distress in a Mini on a steep hill (facing upwards). Original intention just top get it off the road. I squared up behind it and started to push as she prepared to steer. Didn't budge. FFS, thought I, it's a Mini. Just then two traffic wardens approached. As they did so, the damsel asked if it should be in first or reverse
So, car now in neutral, traffic wardens reach the car which now moves pretty easily. Any passers by would have seen me struggle to move the car and these other strapping guys appear and move it like it weighed nothing.:-( I'm sure the woman didn't realise why I couldn't shift it either
So, car now in neutral, traffic wardens reach the car which now moves pretty easily. Any passers by would have seen me struggle to move the car and these other strapping guys appear and move it like it weighed nothing.:-( I'm sure the woman didn't realise why I couldn't shift it eithermaniac0796 said:
I love explaining how to bump start cars to people. Because 99.999% of the time, they say they understand, and then 10 minutes later when they've got the whole street out to help them push the car, they phone you back, and ask if you told them how to do it properly.
Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Stupid question but what do you mean by ignition on; the key turned so in the position it stays in once car is started, or held against the spring where you hold it for a second when starting normally?Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Syncromesh said:
maniac0796 said:
I love explaining how to bump start cars to people. Because 99.999% of the time, they say they understand, and then 10 minutes later when they've got the whole street out to help them push the car, they phone you back, and ask if you told them how to do it properly.
Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Stupid question but what do you mean by ignition on; the key turned so in the position it stays in once car is started [YES!], or held against the spring where you hold it for a second when starting normally?[NO!]Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Syncromesh said:
maniac0796 said:
I love explaining how to bump start cars to people. Because 99.999% of the time, they say they understand, and then 10 minutes later when they've got the whole street out to help them push the car, they phone you back, and ask if you told them how to do it properly.
Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Stupid question but what do you mean by ignition on; the key turned so in the position it stays in once car is started, or held against the spring where you hold it for a second when starting normally?Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Oh wai-
A group of us had been to see some mates in band play a gig at the village hall and having just passed his test one of us was in his car, most of the rest of us still getting buses/walking/ a lift with him if we were lucky. Anyway after half an hour of pushing his car round the car park it still wouldn't start. At this point some one who'd been running the evening came out and suggested we tried the choke. As we were all learning on cars with auto chokes none of the rest of us even considered such things....don't know how lucky we are do we?
Syncromesh said:
maniac0796 said:
I love explaining how to bump start cars to people. Because 99.999% of the time, they say they understand, and then 10 minutes later when they've got the whole street out to help them push the car, they phone you back, and ask if you told them how to do it properly.
Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Stupid question but what do you mean by ignition on; the key turned so in the position it stays in once car is started, or held against the spring where you hold it for a second when starting normally?Ignition on, put car in third gear, keep foot on clutch, release handbrake, let car gather speed, take foot off clutch.
Most of the time it says ign on the barrel, and I've always referred to that position as ignition, so...
edo said:
did I read somewhere that bump starting can screw up your cat(alytic converter, not pussy)?
Allegedly, but then jump starting can allegedly screw up your ECU.So pretty much the only safe thing to do if you get a flat battery is to throw the car away and get a new one
(Or just accept that if you bump start it three times a day for several years it might cause problems, but once every now and then you'll probably be fine
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