Talk:Push start

Automatic

There's an infamous story that indicates an automatic can be push started if got up to about 30 miles an hour - possible by pushing with another car. (In that story, the pusher misunderstands and impacts the vehicle to be started at the speed). Is it possible to push start an automatic at such speeds? 94.194.66.92 (talk) 17:42, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

It is possible on some early automatic transmissions of the 1960s era or before [23][24][25][26]. These citations should probably be added to the last part of the article that mentions automatics. --Dbratland (talk) 18:57, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

This is possible with cars newer than the 60s. I've personally done it in 1985 Honda Accord (down a hill not pushed with another car). Required speed was 30-35mph. That said, I don't think it deserves mention in the article as people don't push start automatics. Petree (talk) 05:49, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Meaning of "pop" in "pop[ping] the clutch"?

In the idiom "pop[ping] the clutch", to what action does the verb "pop" refer? Specifically:

1. Does it refer to the quick release of the clutch pedal once the car has reached 5-10 MPH, i.e., allowing the clutch to "pop out" (like the safety/tamper indicator on a ketchup bottle or food jar)?
   
2. Does it refer to the quick re-depression of the clutch pedal once the engine has caught and started, i.e., a quick application of significant but not overwhelming force, akin to, e.g.,
   • the throwing of a light-to-moderate punch, as in "pop[ping] [someone] in the mouth" or
   • the quick, short-distance insertion of a small, sharp object, as in "pop[ping]" a balloon, bubble, or similar object?
     
3. Does it refer to some entirely different action, and if so, what is that action?

Also, if you don't mind, when answering this question would you please post a copy of your answer on my talk page? Thanks!

-- 165.176.7.3 (talk) 23:47, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

It's #1. Just like you "pop the hood" by disengaging the latch keeping the hood closed, when popping the clutch you momentarily disengage the clutch allowing the spinning wheels to force the engine to start spinning. When pushing a car, once you've hit a sufficient speed (as fast as you can push it) one would customarily shout "pop the clutch" so the person in the drivers seat knew when to try to start the car. Petree (talk) 05:49, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

thx 165.176.7.3 (talk) 00:35, 9 February 2011 (UTC)

Timing belt issues

Is it true that the timing belt may skip or snap during a push start, if the clutch is released too fast? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.101.211.83 (talk) 10:29, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

Generalise

How about moving the article to a more general title to include hill starts? JIMp _talk·cont 23:10, 18 July 2011 (UTC)

Because "hill start" isn't a commonly used term, and push start is probably the most common term. Wikipedia:Article titles says to stick with commonly used names for articles, rather than the most precise or technical name. If some other name than push start was shown to be more frequently used by the general public, then a move might make sense. --Dennis Bratland (talk) 23:15, 18 July 2011 (UTC)

But does "push start" include hill starts?— Preceding unsigned comment added by Jimp (talk • contribs) 01:09, 19 July 2011

The article says hills make it easier and are necessary for larger vehicles. That seems to cover it. If I saw a source that said hill starting is a different subject then that would be persuasive. --Dennis Bratland (talk) 01:23, 19 July 2011 (UTC)

My thought would be to call it "pop start" so as to include both types. I had an 84 Jetta with a bad alternator at one point, and I'd usually park it on hills so I could get it started without help. It's a light car and doesn't require a lot of speed to pop start, so just rolling down a hill (or on a flat surface, even sticking my foot out the door to get it rolling Flintstone-style) would work. I rarely had to get someone to help me, so it was infrequent that I was doing a "push start." Triangular (talk) 15:50, 16 December 2011 (UTC)

Sorry if this is the wrong section, but I know I have bump started diesel cars in the past, and it was not that difficult. --83.244.175.3 (talk) 15:38, 7 January 2016 (UTC)