Not having power in the middle of nowhere can be a real pain. Don’t worry, though! It’s been said that rolling or pushing your car can start it. Try that before calling a tow truck. Is it a good idea, though? What does it have in common with a current starter system?
The Push Behind the Push Start:
Cars used hand cranks to start long before they had power starters. You might not believe it, but there was a time before power starters! In the early 1900s, cars had a hand crank, which was a metal bar that the driver had to turn by hand (usually clockwise) to make the engine turn. It was hard and dangerous to use this method, especially for cold starts in bad weather. The electric starter, which was invented in the early 1910s, changed the way cars were started and made it safer and easier.
Your Car’s Starting System
The way current starters work is a miracle of electrical engineering. It is made up of several important parts:
- The battery stores the electricity that the engine needs to start.
- A starter motor is a strong electric motor that turns the engine rotor.
- Starter Solenoid: An electromagnet that switches the power from the battery to the starter motor.
- The ignition switch tells the starter solenoid to turn on the starting motor.
When you turn the key in the ignition, electricity flows through the starting solenoid and turns on the starter motor. The engine flywheel is then turned by the starter motor, which should get the engine going.
The Role of the Charging System
A good battery is necessary for a good start. The charging system in your car makes sure that the battery is always getting more power while the engine is going. This system is made up of:
- As the engine runs, the alternator makes electricity to charge the battery.
- Voltage regulator: This part controls the output voltage of the generator so that the battery doesn’t get too charged.
- The battery is what stores the electricity that the generator makes.
A dead battery can make it impossible for your car to start if the charging device isn’t working right. Watch out for warning signs like headlights that flicker or internal lights that dim, which could mean there is a problem with the charging system.
Common Causes and Solutions of Starter not Working
Your car might also not start if the starter motor is broken. Here are a few popular ones:
- Worn-out starter motor: The brushes and other parts of the starter motor can wear out over time, making it less powerful when starting.
- Solenoid problem: If the solenoid is broken, it might not send enough power to the starting motor to turn it on.
- Connections that are too loose or corroded: Battery cables that are too loose or corroded can stop power from getting to the starter.
If you think the starter is broken, have a skilled mechanic look at your car. For repairs, old parts might need to be replaced or corroded connections may need to be cleaned.
Battery Drain Blues: What Steals Your Power?
It’s not always the case that the starter or charging device is broken when the battery dies. Here are some things that might drain your battery:
- A simple but usual mistake is leaving the lights inside on.
- Parasitic drain: Some computer parts in your car can slowly drain the battery even when it’s not running.
- Bad alternator diode: If the diode is bad, current can flow out of the battery even when the engine is going.
Should You Push Start Your Car? (Maybe Not)
Let’s get to the main question: is it a good idea to roll start? It might look like a quick fix, but there are some things that could go wrong:
- Transmission Strain: Roll-starting modern cars, especially ones with automatic transmissions, can put too much stress on the transmission parts, which can require expensive repairs. In most automatics, the engine has to be going for the gearbox to get enough oil.
- Problems with fuel injection: The electric pump brings fuel to modern cars that use fuel injection. It’s possible that rolling the engine might not produce enough power for the pump to work properly, which could cause the engine to sputter or have trouble starting.
- Safety Concerns: To roll-start, you have to move the car in neutral while another car pushes it. This could be dangerous in heavy traffic or on rough ground.
So, When Can You Push Start? (Use Caution!)
In very specific conditions and with care, you might be able to roll-start a car with a manual gearbox if the clutch is in good shape. Here’s a basic way to do it (check your owner’s guidebook for more detailed steps):
- Find a Safe Place: Look for a straight, flat stretch of road with few cars going by.
- Engage Second Gear: If you have a manual gearbox car, turn off the key and shift into second gear.
- Getting a Push: To speed up, have another car or people push yours.
- Let Go of the Clutch: Slowly let go of the clutch pedal while the car is moving. Press the clutch again and give it another try if the engine sputters.
- When the engine starts, keep the RPMs a little higher for a few minutes to give the alternator a chance to charge the battery.
