Need ways to start a car with a dead battery.- 92 Civic Auto.

Pooh Bear wrote:
[headlamp reminder chime]

The '84 Prelude I used to drive had this feature. I wonder why a '92
Civic wouldn't.

 

If the OP could remember the use of switches we wouldn't even be having this
discussion.

Graham

 

Under NORMAL conditions, yes. When you're push-starting, not so;
you're running the car off the alternator.

 

It's a puzzle.

Graham

 

Less of a puzzle when one notices some of the posts the OP made in a few
other newsgroups recently. All of them have a distinct aroma of "let's
see how many responses we can trigger with a question that looks at
least semi-real at first glance, but upon examination, is obviously
bogus".

As in, I think it might be time to hang out the "we have been trolled"
sign...

 

I left my parking lights on overnight. Didn't think it would
drain the battery down that much, but it did. The power door
locks barely functioned, but there wasn't enough juice to get
the starter going.

Fortunately the manager where I was staying was used to
battery problems in his own vehicle and had one of those jump
starter kits. As soon as I got home I looked into getting
one for myself. They typically provide a "boost" but most
can't compensate for a completely drained battery. There are
more powerful units that might. Some come with air pumps and/
or power inverters.

I ordered a couple of these from Amazon. $39.95 each with
free ground shipping. This particular one is out of stock,
but they have different manufacturers/models. You can
probably find similar boxes at Wal-Mart or auto supply
stores.

<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00030BFJW>

 

I have that exact same model -also-. Call me paranoid.

Lg

 

I can't vouch for it, just sharing the link...
http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/Main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=TOL10130

 

Buy one of these.

http://www.baproducts.com/sm831.htm

If it happens to work, let me know.

Dave

 

i bought one because that was the cheapest/easiest way to keep my 130psi
road bike tires full.

 

I have a 1 year old car complete with computers and electric fuel pumps and
managed to bump start it no problem, it wasn't even a steep hill either, I
got a friend to push me, and once I was going about 5mph I lifted the clutch
and the engine started.

 

Sorry if I'd misled anyone. These are genuine questions. The 92 Civic DX
doesn't have a "lights on" chimer. We ran down the battery countless times.
Many are from people who'd borrow our car. I believe on the third battery
rundown incident the battery refuses to hold charge. It's a pretty small lead
acid battery that you could get at Costco for $35 a pop. I wouldn't sell the
little Civic for anything because the only thing that ever goes dead is the battery.

The idea to charge the battery from spinning the alternator by hand has been
bugging me for almost three years. I just didn't have the nerve to ask.

I'm posting at the library, so time was limited. I compiled a list of questions
(while half asleep) and post to relevant newsgroup and try to follow every
newsgroup etiquette. Some of my post, regrettably, are poorly worded
which appears trollish...:~) Thanks all for the practical varieties of
solutions for the archive.

Nickaby

 

Where do you get that rule of thumb? Time to recharge will depend a

I've heard it and read it in several places. I have no reason to doubt it.
The starter motor will drain the battery a lot faster than the alternator
can charge it. That much is obvious, as re-charging the battery fast would
destroy it. So common sense tells you that the car will have to be driven a
ways for the battery to recover from even a single attempt at starting the
car. I'm sure there are differences between cars, but supposedly, 8 miles
is the average distance driven before the battery recovers from attempting
to start the car once. -Dave

 

Two more words for you Sam,
BUS CARD

 

Having a manual transmission is a bit of a rarity nowadays. Of course, an
automatic tranny would wipe out the possibility of a push start for most
people. (IIRC, some of the older tranny designs allowed push starts, but
I doubt the newer ones do.)

If you have enough charge in the battery to activate the ignition system,
and
allow the fuel pump to operate and the ECM to control the key units, then
a simple push start can work.

But get the battery too low,and it isnt going to work.

 

Maybe where you live. But not here.

 

And not for *THIS* driver...

Gimme a good old-fashion stick any day of the week. I don't much care
for being stranded by a tranny that decides it doesn't want to shift
when it's supposed to, or tries to "out-think" me. When I put it in
second, I want it in second until I decide to put it someplace else, and
to hell with whatever the widget that passes for "intelligence" in the
gearbox thinks is right.

 

True. There has to be at least some tiny bit of charge left in the battery
or you are SOL.

 

You idea has many holes in it. If you were SOMEHOW able to give enough
amps to turn the car over, the battery would die out if the car started
because the alternator can't charge the dead battery because the
alternator belt is off.

Does the 92 civic have a single belt? If so, all of your other
components won't turn either.