Is this right?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
From: HOCO MARYLAND
Rep Power: 283 
Is this right?
Someone on the forums tried to tell me you can get a car running with no battery. I know you can push start a car to get it running but I thought the battery had to have some charge in it.
I Hunt Goats, Rams, And Mustangs.
iTrader: (6)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,360
Likes: 1
From: CenTex
Rep Power: 281 
Well theroedically you can, if you get the car going fast enought in gear to turn the alternator fast enought to power the coils for the plugs. So that would mean you would have to be driving fast enough already to get power. Soooo unless your being towed by anouther car... NO. You cant, you need a big enough charge to power the coils to get it jumped.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 3
From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 425 I would lean towards the practical answer of no. A manual car you may be able to get push started (like w/ a dead battery) but the alternator peaks and spikes like crazy. You'd fry everything.
we did that to my dad's toyota stickshift tercel after the battery died out, when he still had it many years ago. It was the first car furthest in the driveway and the jumpers were to short to reach the car behind it, so he backed out all the cars and we pushed it back and on the push foward up the driveway he got it started... i didnt know how or why, just remembered now lol
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 0
From: Dayton OH
Rep Power: 313 if there is a battery in it it will accept and ups and downs in the voltage and it will be ok. i do it all the time at work with our tugs. the same thing applies to aircraft when we hook up a power cart to them
up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right-b-a-b-a-start
iTrader: (20)
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,785
Likes: 0
From: London, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 372 ok... if the battery is dead you can bump start a manual transmition car by rolling it fast enough and dumping the clutch.
if there's no battery what so ever, then no you can't bump start it.
Trust me... the same theory works on motorcycles.
if there's no battery what so ever, then no you can't bump start it.
Trust me... the same theory works on motorcycles.
Registered!!
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
Rep Power: 282 I dont know about modern cars, but about 15-20 years ago my step-father used to own a LADA with carburated engine. One very cold morning (in Russia) his battery let go (dont remember what exactly happend) so he had no battery at all. We used neigbours car battery to jump start his LADA and then it ru without battery whatsoever, basicaly just off alternator...
...but as far as I know, car will idle and run with no battery, but you need battery to start engine, but then you can disconect it..
This is the car that we had in those days..
...but as far as I know, car will idle and run with no battery, but you need battery to start engine, but then you can disconect it..
This is the car that we had in those days..
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
From: HOCO MARYLAND
Rep Power: 283 I know you can push start cars, the issue is whether or not the battery needs to be installed.
If you disconnect battery while engine is running you will prob fry many things. So you could not start a car with out the battery installed. Also, there would have to be somewhat of a charge in the battery, or otherwise you would have to be towed at like 20mph. So the battery cannot be completely dead.
I think I got it now.
If you disconnect battery while engine is running you will prob fry many things. So you could not start a car with out the battery installed. Also, there would have to be somewhat of a charge in the battery, or otherwise you would have to be towed at like 20mph. So the battery cannot be completely dead.
I think I got it now.
Last edited by jackburton; Jan 16, 2006 at 03:52 PM.
Registered!!
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
Rep Power: 282
Originally Posted by jackburton
I know you push start cars, the issue is whether or not the battery needs to be installed.
If disconnect battery while engine is running you will prob fry many things. So I assumed that you could not start a car with out the battery installed.
If disconnect battery while engine is running you will prob fry many things. So I assumed that you could not start a car with out the battery installed.
For me not getting it right - 
But I'll say "yes" to battery, if you need to jump start...
Registered!!
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
Rep Power: 282
Originally Posted by jackburton
Oh yeah and this for a civic.
I could see it might work for older cars, maybe...
I could see it might work for older cars, maybe...
If I remember right, it had coil type of ignition with mechanical distributor...wel like most cars that were designed in 70s.
Registered!!
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,914
Likes: 0
From: California, US
Rep Power: 353 whats the point of this thread and why is it in the tech diy section? is there a problem you need fixed that you have to run your car with out the battery or are you just wondering if it would work?
