You are right on this one. I concede. "Reverse thinking" gets the brain impulses short circuited from time to time.
Putting it down, step by step, I "think" I got it right on my last attempt to explain this, no?

I thank Race Miata for keeping me "honest".

(Maybe the whole "hampster" thing was just too distracting? I'm just glad I didn't get into toilet paper rolls and duct tape. )

 

I've jumped mine in as little as 10 feet, works like a charm. Ignition on, clutch on, in 3rd gear. Get it rolling to about walking speed and drop the clutch. Varoom. Another good reason to park at the top of a hill or slope pointing downhill if you are given the choice.

To xviper. You are correct but it would also be correct that the energy available to crank the engine 1/2 a rev (about all you need to get it started) is higher in a lower gear. This is especially true when the roads are slick like in snow. I've tried it in a higher gear and it doesn't work as well. I'm something of an expert at jump starting cars When I was 19 I had an old Nissan 240SX that had a broken starter. I drove that car for an entire winter in Toronto, back and forth to work and everywhere in between. I must have jump started it single handed 300 or more times. It's not hard just inconvenient. You need to consider where and how you park, look always for a clear 50 feet in front pointed straight down hill. The car was light enough to get out and push myself then jump in, find a gear and drop the clutch when no significant gravity boost was available.

Coincidentally I did need to replace the clutch on it in the spring but I never kept it long enough to find out if the two things were related. Got $160 for it at the scrap yard.

 

...don't make Richard Gere joke...

...don't make Richard Gere joke...

 

Since we are on the topic of jump starting cars, it is common knowledge that you can't jump start an automatic.
Does anyone here know of tricks or ways to start a car with an auto transmission and no cranking? (other than jumper cables)

 

I have push started an automatic before. Granted, it was a 1955 Chev. I did it just as an experiment (well, more of a gag). We had to push it at a fairly high rate of speed - at least 20 mph, so you're not going to do this on foot. Another option is to get it rolling down a good hill to get it going that fast.
I couldn't tell ya how it would work on a modern day car.

 

I've heard it can done with an auto, but like the man said, you have to be going much faster 20-30 mph.

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Dec 7 2005, 07:55 AM]I thank Race Miata for keeping me "honest".