How to Push-Start a Car with a Dead Battery

Left your lights on at the mall again? Here's how to get your car started without the use of jumper cables.

Step 1: Turn ignition on
Turn your ignition to the "on" position.

Step 2: Engage clutch; put into gear
Press the clutch firmly to the floor and put the car into gear.

Tip
First or second gear will work, but try second gear to reduce the jolt when the vehicle starts.

Step 3: Push car
Have your friend or friends push the car until you have achieved a speed of five to 10 miles per hour.

Tip
Let your friends know when you are about to pop the clutch so that they can get out of the way.

Step 4: Release clutch
Release the clutch pedal slowly.

Tip
Don't be afraid to give the engine a little gas at this stage, but not too much.

Step 5: Drive
Drive for a short distance after you feel the car start; just to make sure that the vehicle is actually running. Don't forget to go back for your friends.

Did You Know?
On average there is over 3,000 feet of wiring in every car.

[adafrost]

You're bypassing the starter system by engaging the clutch/flywheel directly which forces the rest of the ignition system to work when the key is in the 'on' position.

[alexloldun]

"Hey man do you know how to pop the clutch? My battery is dead"
...
"no but there is over 3000 ft of wiring in every car"

[JesusChristIsLord__]

I've push started my car successfully before and the info in this video is accurate.

[JonathanAnon]

Aw crap, I left my friends at the mall :-(

[JuiceboxOffroad]

I've had to pop start my car myself before. Just park somewhere that when you disengage the hand brake, you car will start to roll at a decent speed (at least 5 mph),  put it in 1st or 2nd, wait until you reach the max speed that you can get it to roll to, release the clutch and give it some gas,  and your golden. I like to turn the ignition when I release the clutch sometimes too. If you are on mostly flat surface road, push the car in neutral until you get decent speed and hop in as the car is rolling. A little risky but its saved me multiple times. Of course its a lot easier to have a friend but not having someone to help doesn't mean you should give up.

[Amanda-sbmf]

Just learned this at work when my truck wouldn’t start. A coworker pushed my truck and I was rolling away within 20 seconds. Thank god for manual.

[IvyLeagueDreadlocks]

Hey this was super helpful! Thank you!

[donnythedealer]

Honestly, putting the clutch up abruptly was what helped for me, it caused the car to shudder and the engine came on

[Lagomization]

How to push start an automatic car:

1. Get a manual transmission car

[davidzzz]

manual cars steering wheels can still be turned when the engine is not running right?

[edgargrimaldo]

Does that give the battery a small jump start or charge?or is it like a quick start with whatever it can go with?

[DDay]

I don't know much about manual cars, but when are you supposed to start the car? I know it said to but the ignition to on, but don't you need to turn it farther to start it?

[jshaw]

it may cause some minor wear on the clutch, no more than stalling. But how often are people doing this anyway?

[stevehill]

If the battery was completely flat, then you would have to push it quite a distance with the clutch out for the alternator to generate enough electricity for the fuel pump, computer, and injectors to come alive

[pepene]

@DDay3553 nope. the start position simply gives power to the started motor, but your good friends take the place of that.

[rikyoo]

thanks a lot! i've just started my VW with flat battery!! ;)

[gusocorredor]

@gusocorredor sorry, i was looking at the wrong video, but anyways, that is definately a fuel injected car and unlike a carby if the battery is dead, the injectors wont work right??? cus theres no electricity to inject, unlike a carby giving gas moves the parts around :s

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Can you do this with new cars that don't have ignition-turning, and a push-button start instead?

[skunko]

when u go to take your foot of the clutch do u turn the key to start the motor as well ?

[daveprice]

just did it with a tiny strech of road with my civic, dont slowly release the clutch, just pop it completely and when the engine fires up push the clutch back in