Push Start RX-8 In Reverse?
 

My car is in my garage, with 4+ hour wait times for Roadside Assistance...and 2 hours until the start of the superbowl, I am considering "push starting" my car. Down my driveway since I am on an incline. Will doing this cause damage? Will this work?

Or is this a "bad idea"?

why isnt it starting???
need more info! :D:

Trunk was left open, and the battery is low, but not dead (still clicking, lights still work)

you can push start any stick shift. I wouldn't do it in reverse though because of the gearing of reverse.

Everyone should have a battery backup. And then keep it in the trunk.

There only $40.

just wanted to make sure it wasnt flooded and that its only the battery....
gear ratio on reverse is prolly a lot higher than you would like it to be for an easy push start...ie with a 6MT...2nd gear would be best to turn it over...

good luck...
I would go out and buy a charger!!..have someone pick it up for you..

Well I guess I will wait for Roadside to show up...apparently today is a bit busy - it being -1 degrees F out there in Chicago.

Napa is about 1/2 mile away, I think that is my best bet...Thanks Shinka213

Why do you want to go outside in -100 degree weather in the first place?

I don't get channel 2 - is the reason.

And it is way too fing cold out there....just went out...so I wait.

Jason

I've bump started cars in reverse. Pretty similar to starting in first. Forward in second is better, since you push it a little faster and engaging the clutch is smoother, but if you don't have the room you do what you need to.

The problem with pushing a car that's stuck in the garage is that if it does not catch you wind up out on the street with a dead car. Of course, if you live on a hill then you get a chance to bump start it forward. I've lost track of how often I've done that.

I second (or third) the motion to buy a charger. Always good to have one of those around. Also a set of jumper cables.

Ken

Thanks guys for the suggestions. Monday I will be going to purchase the chargers and the cables :)

Roadside just called said they will be here within the hour, so I am happy. Thanks for all the info everyone.

Edit: And it is good to know that it is possible with enough room to push start it in reverse.

Enjoy the game,
Jason

Just so you know...

I had about 10-15 feet of driveway/hill space, when I stalled my RX7 for the first time, and the only way to go was backwards..

Popped the clutch at about 3-5 feet left to go, I was going roughly 7-10mph.

What if you had rolled the car in reverse and tried to start it, but you failed?

Your car would be stuck down at the bottom of the driveway right? lol

I dunno maybe not...