It has happened to every driver at some time or another, and chances are it has happened to you as well. You park your car, run your errands and return to the vehicle. You put the key in the ignition, engage the starter and are greeted by nothing but silence.
Your battery is dead, and you need a way to bring your car back to life. If you are lucky enough to find a fellow motorist with jumper cables, you can be on your way in no time, but what if no jumper cables are available? Can you really start your car without using jumper cables? The answer may be yes.
Help for Standard Transmissions
If your car is equipped with a standard transmission, you just might be in luck. Even if there are no jumper cables in sight, you can start your car using a series of simple steps.
Start by placing your car at the top of an incline. You may need help top push the vehicle into position. Once the car is at the top of the incline, push the clutch the whole way in and place the vehicle in second gear. Once the car is in gear, turn the ignition switch but do not try to start the engine. Get in the driver’s seat and let off the brake, then quickly let go of the clutch once the vehicle reaches five miles per hour. The momentum should engage the engine and allow you to be on your way, even if you do not have access to any jumper cables.
Fewer Options for Automatic Vehicles
Starting a vehicle with a standard transmission is a relatively simple process, even without the aid of jumper cables, but what if your car is an automatic? You have fewer options when you drive an automatic, and the rolling start trick will not work due to the limitations of the transmission and the fact that it is designed to not roll away.
You can still start the vehicle without the aid of jumper cables, but you will need a special starting device that plugs into your cigarette lighter. It is a good idea to keep one of these devices on hand for emergencies, so you can start your vehicle and overcome a dead battery without searching the parking lot for a helpful soul with a set of jumper cables.