DaWifey's90

iTrader: (3)

so the started died again and unlike previous starter deaths i was nowhere near tools or the possibility of repairing then and there. option one was to wait 2 hours for AAA, option 2 was push start (not the smartest thing to do i know but i had the space to do it so i figured y not)

but the point of this post is not so much to debate the ethics and wisdom of push starting in a shopping strip parking lot but rather the effects of push starting on the car.

this is maybe the 3rd time i've push started a car and it's always been in emergencies not just for ships and giggles. what damage is/can be done from pushstarting?

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

It may be a little hard on the motor/tranny mounts...But besides that i don't see what other harm it could do...

Cliff Clavin

iTrader: (11)

I have done it to the max before and at least once on every car I have owned that was a manual tranny.

It's not something to do frequently, but I think if you do it once in a great while it isn't going to seriously damage anything.

When I was in high school I had a POS 82 Ford Escort. The starter went out on it and I had zero money. I parked it on a hill and rolled it to start or push started it every day several times a day a week until I borrowed money from my mom to get another one from U-Pull-It. The car didn't seem to have any ill effects, although I could care less because it was a crappy car.

bhunter

iTrader: (3)

Back when I was a kid in college I parked my 1970 MGB on a hill frequently to jump start it. I don't see how it could hurt anything. Did it all the time.

Phoenix

At least MGBs are light enough to push... I've pushed this one for many more reasons than to get it started

maxmaxima91

When my starter acted up, for about 2 weeks i push started it to get back and forth to school. i would sit in the driver seat and push the car backwards with my foot hanging out of the car then would pop the clutch with it in reverse.. usually would start right up. That was only if i was alone. Otherwise i would recomened pushing it forward and then poping the clutch with it in 2nd or 3rd gear, and the second it starts push the clutch in again. i dont really see how it could hurt things, it may feel bad but it cannot be close to the abuse that the drivetrains going through under full acceleration or burnouts... etc.

Jeremy

bhunter

iTrader: (3)

Your's looks about my year too! I used to leave it in gear, running when I got stuck in the snow and get out and push it myself and then jump in. Also lifted it off the ground to let my girlfriend change the tiire when my jack broke. (she married me!)

subs1000w

i go out of my way to rub it in my friends faces with autos when there battery dies there screwed and if you think the max is hard to push and pop by yourself try pushing a excab longbed f150 its not easy but once you get it going hop in throw it in "4th ideally for 1:1 but somtimes it wont spin the engine fast enough" or any gear pop the clutch and drive away

VEvolution

Interesting thread. I've heard about this technique, but never actually tried it. How exactly does it work? Your starter is acting up, so you get out and get the car rolling Im guessing. Then as it's rolling(doesn't matter how fast, right?), jump in throw it in gear and start it while havin your foot on the clutch?

Harvs94max

iTrader: (5)

ur not suppose to do it with a transaxle type tranny the forces on the transmission when push starting it are much different then when driving
but as you can see from others experience the tranny can handle it
i wouldnt recommend it though
ive seen pictures of tranny cases cracked from doing it

Phoenix

Mine's a '72 w/ 54k original miles... it shows it age though. I had a '61 Midget for a while that i'd pick the rear end up and spin around becuase I parked it across the garage in front of the Miata and my mom's Wrangler.