Flat battery - how to hill start an automatic?

robo1

Anyone know? Is it even possible?

Anan1

robo1 wrote:

Anyone know? Is it even possible?

It's not, I'm afraid. An automatic has a torque converter, so turning the wheels won't turn the engine.

seamus

D'oh. Ignore me. Missed the "automatic" part

andrew_ireland

Don't even think about it! Push/Hill starting an automatic can serioiusly fcuk the transmission.

Avns1s

Anan1 wrote:

It's not, I'm afraid. An automatic has a torque converter, so turning the wheels won't turn the engine.

100% correct. Jump start only.

junkyard

The only automatic car I know of that you can start like this is a Mercedes and you have to get you speed up to and over 30mph, a bit hairy considering you'll have unassisted power steering and virtually no brakes.....I've done it, but its not for the fainthearted.:D

MercMad

Yes thats correct you can tow start an auto Merc but only the ones that DONT have torrque converters and generally thats pre 1972. They have fluid couplings instead. There are some exceptions to the '72 rule though !

Rovi

MercMad wrote:

Yes thats correct you can tow start an auto Merc but only the ones that DONT have torrque converters and generally thats pre 1972. They have fluid couplings instead. There are some exceptions to the '72 rule though !

It can be done with some older American automatics too, but generally speaking, bump starting an automatic is completely contraindicated.

colm_mcm

unless it's a rental car! in that case I'd give it a go anyway

Rovi

colm_mcm wrote:

unless it's a rental car!...

Obviously. They're also superb rally cars and off-roaders.

robo1

Looks like I'll have to get some jump leads so. Saw these though

http://www.safehomeproducts.com/shp2/sm/12v_power_products.asp

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Car-Battery-Jump-Starter-Thru-Cigarette-Lighters-New_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63687QQihZ002QQitemZ120002581255QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Any thoughts or are they just a gimick?

colm_mcm

Only a complete idiot could get jumpstarting from the battery wrong.

Wishbone Ash

colm_mcm wrote:

Only a complete idiot could get jumpstarting from the battery wrong.

Easy on colm - if everyone knew everything there would be no need for this forum.

colm_mcm

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Easy on colm - if everyone knew everything there would be no need for this forum.

I'm not having a go, I'm just saying that those cigarette lighter jump leads aren't as good as the real thing!

robo1

colm_mcm wrote:

Only a complete idiot could get jumpstarting from the battery wrong.

Your not having a go? You could have fooled me. So I came across something which is a little cheaper and more convenient. That obviously means I don't know how to jump start a car.

colm_mcm

Any decent jump leads you buy will have full instructions, and the devices you mention are aimed at people who would have little mechanical experience, I've seen these advertised sometimes portraying jump starting a car, or even opening a bonnet, as a huge task.


The first item costs a lot more than jump leads, and the second one doesn't even jump start cars, After a long time it slowly charges the battery back up. If after a few attempts you can't start the car, you have to wait for it to charge up again!

Also if either of these items burns out wiring in your car, it won't be covered by the car manufacturers warranty. To my knowledge, the first item sends a high voltage (over 12V) through the cig lighter for when you start, and could cause problems if you have a fairly new car.

Del2005

Don't forgot also that most modern cars can't be jump started either(sp?), it makes a mess of the ECU etc. You just end up with a dead battery and car:(

SouperComputer

Del2005 wrote:

Don't forgot also that most modern cars can't be jump started either(sp?), it makes a mess of the ECU etc. You just end up with a dead battery and car:(

Id like to know more about this. Ive done it after stalling without issues. Ignition on=ecu on, turn engine, ECU adds fuel+spark and away you go. Of course if you keep cranking without startng for whatever reason and the ECU keeps putting fuel in, you risk damage to the cat and lambda sensor.

colm_mcm

on some cars can have their computers damaged by a voltage spike transmitted from one car to the other.

junkyard

The jump leads I have have an anti-surge protector, its designed for modern cars. I haven't seen them here yet but its a good idea.

colm_mcm

better to remove a good battery from another car and jump start with this if you're at all scared by power spikes.

Del2005

colm_mcm wrote:

better to remove a good battery from another car and jump start with this if you're at all scared by power spikes.

But when doing this don't forget to keep another battery connected so as not to loose radio codes etc.

colm_mcm

Del2005 wrote:

But when doing this don't forget to keep another battery connected so as not to loose radio codes etc.

Ah, don't be complicating things! If you had a spare battery, you'd use it in the car that won't start!

mike65

I don't think radio codes are lost immediatly, don't most modern head units have a short-term memory?

Mike.

CPG

I have an auto box in my 850, and I carry around one of those battery starter packs.

Here is an example that can be got from Argos,
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7505979/Trail/C%24cip%3D36581.DIY%2C%2Bgarden%2Band%2Bcar%3EC%24cip%3D36582.Car%2Bequipment%3EC%24cip%3D36586.Car%2Btools.htm

Johnny Storm

CPG wrote:

I have an auto box in my 850, and I carry around one of those battery starter packs.

Here is an example that can be got from Argos,
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7505979/Trail/C%24cip%3D36581.DIY%2C%2Bgarden%2Band%2Bcar%3EC%24cip%3D36582.Car%2Bequipment%3EC%24cip%3D36586.Car%2Btools.htm

Suitable for use on petrol engines up to 2500cc

Is that going to be much use on your 850?
Or is it 850cc ?

CPG

Volvo 850, 2400CC

Johnny Storm

Cheers. I was thinking Beemer 850 :rolleyes:

CPG

I think Beemer 850 quite a bit too