I know with manual transmissions it is possible to pop the clutch to start the vehicle if the starter goes bad or whatever. I also know people who have done this once in a while to save wear and tear on the starter. I was wondering if this has any long-term effects on the engine and drivetrain (undue strain and the like). If not, why don't more people do this and save the starter?? Also, does it incur anymore damage to a diesel than a gasser?? Thanks for any info.

 

well its not really good and i would bet its better to just use the starter i do know that poping it to much will blow the head gasket ( did that to my dads mustang hehe boy was he mad i left the lights on that night)

 

Well, never heard the blown head gasket--anything is possible. We used to tow-start on the farm all the time. (crappy 6 volt electrics) I bump start my van when I can. If you use 2nd and ease out the clutch it probably isn't going to kill anything. But hey, the starters are much better now so it's probably something you should know how to do and then file it away til you need it.


I do know if you have the "sudden battery death" where the battery puts out no juice at all, you can not bump start a new efi car or truck. You can't get the efi running enough to give you fuel, and if the battery no longer connects inside, I think you are cooked all the way around.
I did have a guy working for me one time....he looked llike Howdy Doody.. any way, he comes back in because his car won't start at the end of the day. He had a little Datsun or other fine brand...with a stick. So I figured with the slope we had, we could bump start it without too much effort. Got him all ready to go, gave it the heave -ho and I'm pushing, told him to get in and hit it. He gets in and turns the key......"Hey, it still won't start......" I 'splained it to him the the 2nd time he went on down the road.

 

I had the opposite problem trying to bumpstart a cushman utility vehicle at work... I was doing the pushing (of course), and the guy on the truck popped the clutch.... and nothing. So I was trying to figure out why it wouldn't start (because I'm the mechanic), and asked him if he had the key on.... let's just say it popped right off after we fixed that.

 

Well, I've done it over the years in time of need and nothing bad has ever became of it. However, I don't "sidestep" the clutch (this should answer your thoughs about undue strain, etc), but rather release it about the same way I would if driving and a bit faster. If the starter/solenoid have failed there will be NP starting since the battery will operate the computer/fuel pump; if the battery is dead you will probably need a bit of extra speed to get the power needed to run the computer/fuel pump while roll starting. I've never heard of problems blowing a head gasket; I'd write that one time off to a head gasket that was already weak and on it's way to failure. Why don't people do it more often? Well, it looks kind of odd doing it and starters/solenoids are pretty cheap to buy.

 

Do you want to find a hill to park on every time before you stop the car? Or try to find someone to give you a push? I think the practicality of it is the reason more people don't do it. Now that being said, when I had a standard tranny truck, I would pop-start it every chance I got. I'd also shift without using the clutch just for giggles. I would try to go all the way up and down through the gears.

 

First time I tried to "pop" start my truck with my sister behind the wheel when we were teenagers. She could not get it through her head to take her fot off the brake while I pushed.

Chris

 

heyy can u pop start a 73-79 ford without the ignition on?

 

i dont see why you could, as the ignition system
would be shut off.

 

my first job was working at a texaco station.these guys did everything-engine rbld,valve jobs-all of it.they had an old 40 ford pickup that they used for push starts.one nite they got a call from a lady who couldnt start her car.so it was slow and i went along.
it was a 53 plymouth.it was starting to rain and the car didnt want to start.so we decided to push start.so this guy told her to put it in 2nd gear with clutch in and let the clutch out at 30mph.we pushed and she let out the clutch and no go.we stopped and pushed her a second time-no go.so this guy walks up to her window and notices that the key was off.he told her to turn the key on and it started on the next push.

 

My friend's truck has a problem with the clutch-interlock switch, so he has to get out and reach under the dash if he wants to start the truck with the key. He parks on hills whenever possible, if he isn't going to leave it running.
Another friend has a Model A with a 6v generator. Let's just say I've pushed that thing a time or two...

 

Reminds me of a routine I saw many moons ago as a small lad. A guy asks his blonde girlfriend to give him a " jump " start ( never heard of "pop" or "bump" start). He explains that she has to get him up to 40 mph (automatic) in order for it to start. He looks in his rearview mirror and to his horror he sees her heading for his rear end going 40 mph. Ha Ha Thank you, thank you very much.

 

May be a little strain on the drive shaft but the engine dosent care what is turning it. Starter turns the flywheel, drive shaft turns the flywheel, whats the differance?

 

Got a new guy at work that drives an 80's model F150 4x4. Knows it all...just ask him. Anyway, I guess he's just too lazy to work on it (needs an alternator). I told him bump starting it was hard on the driveline. "Nah-been doing it for weeks, no problem". Pow! Broken yoke. I didn't start laughing until he jumped out and started chasing his driveshaft down the hill he was parked on. He then proceeds to ask me if I could help him fix it, since he knows I'm always having to tinker with my old '79. I don't mean to offend anyone, 'cause I know there's plenty of "youse guys" out there, but is everyone from N.Y. like this?

 

The funniest thing I ever saw was a Peterbuilt with a dead battery. The service guy showed up, and decided to tug it to get it started. Next thing you know, the rig was sitting there with two broken u-joints, a driveshaft that had been run over, and still had a dead battery.