How to Jump Start A Car. Without Cables. Even If It Is Automatic.
I actually didn’t know how to jump start a car with jumper-cables until this morning. Until today I have been unwittingly “jumping” cars without cables. In this post, I am going to run through the basics (how to jump a car with cables – which was new to me), the junior varsity (how to jump a stick shift car without cables) and the varsity (how to jump an automatic car without cables – yes it can be done).
The Basic – I had never jumped a car with cables because I was always worried that I was going to get electrocuted or the battery would blow up. The standard steps for this are below:
1) Get a car that has a working battery and park it near the car that has the dead battery. Turn the working car off.
2) Connect the red (positive) jumper-cable to the positive side of the stalled battery.
3) Connect the red (positive) jumper-cable to the positive side of the good battery.
4) Connect the black (negative) jumper-cable to the negative side of the good battery.
5) Connect the black (negative) jumper-cable to a metal surface on the car with the dead battery – the engine block is an OK place for this.
6) Start the good car and run it for 2-3 minutes. It actually helps to rev the engine if you feel the battery isn’t charging. I say this from experience. I once got a jump from a guy wearing only a pair of jean shorts and a cape (I live in California), who drove a tiny car and we only got mine to start after a few minutes of running the engine of the working car at high RPMs. If you feel you are getting a weak transfer of power to the dead battery, try changing the location of the black jumper-cable in step #5. If this cable is connected to the side of the car or a dirty piece of metal, the process won’t work well.
7) Start the car with the dead battery.
8) Remove the cables in reverse order.
9) Keep the car with the battery that was dead running for about 30 minutes. It helps to run the engine at high RPMs.
Junior Varsity – You can charge a car without jumper-cables. This is typically done with stick shift cars, but I have done it with automatic cars too. With a stick shift car, follow the instructions below:
1) You will need to roll the car, so if it is at the top of a hill, great. If not, you will have to find someone or a few people to push it, since you will have to be in the car to start it. Remember, the steering wheel and brakes do rely on electrical systems, so don’t roll down a very steep hill.
2) Take off the hand-brake, release the foot-break and push down the clutch to get the car rolling.
3) Once the car gets going to about 5 miles per hour, try starting it by turning the key in the ignition with the clutch down.
4) If that doesn’t work, while the car is rolling, turn the key in the ignition as you release the clutch into gear and depress the accelerator into gear. You will want to give it a lot of gas, so it is recommended that you put the car into second gear when you push down on the accelerator. This has never failed me.
Varsity – Contrary to popular belief, you can jump-start an automatic car without jumper-cables. It’s been documented and I managed to do it in a McDonald’s parking lot in Vallejo, California. The principles are the same as with a stick shift car:
1) Again, you will need to roll the car, so find a place and the right bodies to get the car in motion to about 5 miles per hour.
2) Release the hand-brake and foot-brake, and put the car in second gear.
3) Once the car gets up to about 5 miles per hour, try starting the car by turning the ignition.
4) If that doesn’t work, keep the car in second gear and push down the gas as you turn the ignition.
Let me know if you have any trouble!
I realize this post is a little over a year old, but I wanted to drop by and say that roll-starting a vehicle with an automatic transmission is NOT that simple when it is incapable of starting on it’s own. The reason is because an auto normally uses fluid to transfer the engine’s power, until it reaches overdrive, then the torque converter locks up to become a solid link. The ONLY way you can roll start an auto is if you have already installed a manual lockup switch. A lot of hot rodders do this when they perform custom transmission swaps. Then, to roll-start, it’s just a matter of rolling the auto, and throwing the switch to engage the clutch.
Is it true you can jump start a car without cables ‘just like that’ by opening the plastic cover under the steering wheel, pulling out two wires and striking them together like a match?
Or have I been watching too many movies.
Jessica wat u speak of is not jump starting but rather just bypassing the key ignition which cant be done with cars today.but in the movies they show guy reaches underneath the dashboard pulls out some wires cuts em open, and after few sparks, wrooom goes the engine is just a normal car start.
That’s right, by rolling the car you are effectively by-passing the need for the battery to be functional by going straight to the alternator. You still need the key to the car though. I didn’t make that clear in the original post.
I know the easy way to do it….. 1st take the bat off, 2nd take it to a napa store,3rd tell some one to recharge it. And put it back on……wala it works now and enjoy ride…….8 )
i have done this too with my automatic car,just yesterday, how long will the battery last? im afraid to take my car for a long dride since my battery jas just been brought back to life, kind of thing…
I had to do it to my friends car the other day which is an automatic. So I put it in drive and started pushing it for a bit then tried starting it and nothing happened not even the weird noise the engine makes when it can’t start. Any ideas ?
Try putting it in second gear. If that doesn’t work, put it in first. It actually has to be in a real gear.
will not work for an automatic
Did you have the car in gear (i.e. not in neutral, park or drive)?
I’ve been researching roll starting cars with automatic transmissions and found your post. Here’s what I know:
Chevrolets built in the 1960s with Powerglide automatic transmissions would roll start at about 60 MPH– something only teen aged drivers were crazy enough to try.
Years ago I bought a used Jeep DJ-5 (Postal Jeep, right hand drive, not a CJ-5) which had a Borg-Warner automatic transmission. I roll started that jeep for months on end. Park it on a hill, put it in “Drive” release the parking brake and roll down the hill until it started running under power– usually about 3-5mph.
But it was built in the 1960s and I have been taught for years that modern automatics won’t roll start. But now you’re saying you can roll start a car with an automatic transmission.
My guess is that there MIGHT still be a few automatic transmissions being built that will roll start and I’m wondering of the makes and models of automatic transmission cars you have managed to roll start.
And I’m thinking I go out and test my Tercel and Dodge to see if either will roll start.
Nissan Altima ~2000, in second gear. Not going too fast, in a McDonald’s parking lot in Vallejo, California.
Okay, so I just did a little test.
1991 Toyota Tercel WILL roll start in “drive” at 20-25 MPH and faster.
Will not roll start in “low” or “2nd” at any speed.
It’s late, maybe I’ll try my ’88 Dodge Ram 150 Pick-up tomorrow.
You are an idiot
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Last time.i checked the auto gear leaver is not conected to tranny! hence why they call it auto ! only thing connected.is p for park! Thats it! so when u say put it in second gear its wont to into anything- ita called a inhibitor swich! so keep pushing your auto”s down hills! Hope u have good break pads when u do!
Auto tech!,
At first I didn’t believe it either but guess what? It works on some cars. I tested roll starting on an old Jeep with a Borq-Warner Automatic– it works at 5 MPH!
On my Dodge pick-up with auto tranny– it doesn’t work.
On my Mercury Marquis– it doesn’t work.
On my Toyota Tercel with auto trans– it roll starts at 20 MPH!
I would encourage more people to test their own cars. Of course, I wouldn’t wait until the car won’t start to find out if it will roll start. All that huffing and puffing without knowing seems so hard.
And remember: the key must be in the on position or you’ll be unable to steer the car.
And Auto tech! You’re showing your young age and lack of experience when it comes to automobiles as many not so new cars with automatic transmissions are not electrically shifted and do have mechanical connections between the shifter and the transmission. But you young whippersnappers and dealership wrench benders always think you know it all so it’s to be expected.
use battery from good car. take out and put in car that wont start. start it. take out battery and car will stay running without battery in it for a few minutes (alternater will keep charge). you ll have enough time to put dead battery in car and connect up. keep car running and alternater will re charge battery. put good battery back in the car it came from. both parties drive off and the one who didnt know what was going on and thought that someones stuck without cables drives off saying ” damn why didnt i think of that” thats beyond varsity. thats pro
So so gay you fucking retard the title is how to jump a car with out jumper cables fucking moron
Did you read the page properly, or too moronic to scroll?
Expecting anon commenters to display average intelligence is tantamount to trying to speed up the Earth’s rotation. Eventually, evolution will weed the morons out.
I have try on my 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan it did not work. Have anyone else try it on similar car or other make and models of different years?
See above: “At first I didn’t believe it either but guess what? It works on some cars. I tested roll starting on an old Jeep with a Borq-Warner Automatic– it works at 5 MPH!
On my Dodge pick-up with auto tranny– it doesn’t work.
On my Mercury Marquis– it doesn’t work.
On my Toyota Tercel with auto trans– it roll starts at 20 MPH!”
Thanks that helps