start car down hill?

someone told me this.

if you run your car down a hill while its not running, you can put it into 1st or 2nd gear and the engine will start.

ever hear of that?

Did it many times, when my battery went dead:wink:

does the key have to be in the ignition? i would guess so

Yep, of course, you want your ignition to be on for engine to work. There is no magic to this, you just use your transmission as a starter to spin the engine. And if you have two or more people, you even don't need a hill - well, depending on particular car:wink: . Second gear will be easier on your tranny by the way.

Yes, the way your engine starts is by a motor spinning the engine, of course your ignition must be on, or you'll get no spark and no combustion. The transmission, when in gear, will spin the engine, the higher you gear you put it in, the less force the transmission will need to turn it, but the slower the engine will spin. Its called push starting, or bump starting, im sure it has many names.

Sigh, one of the beauties of driving a stick.

Sigh, one of the beauties of driving a stick.


As long as you have a stick stick it will work.
I learned that about 50 years ago. :grinyes: :grinno: :lol:
They told me when I was done driving for the day always park it on a big hill so you could pust start it the next day.
MT