Push starting in reverse
 

Crazy one! My 72 Porsche doesn't want to turn over. I checked and the battery was low. Put it on the charger for a 1/2 hour and it started. The next day no start. The battery, when I checked was 9 years old, Odyssey. So I bought a new one. Just a click. So I'm down to the ignition switch or the starter/solenoid.

Cars under my 4 post lift and I have a slope from my garage to the street. My question then is could I push it out of the garage and as it rolls down the driveway could I try to start it in reverse?? I've never done that before but it would seem like the engine would still turn over in the right direction.

If I can get it running I can lower my lift, take my Mini off and drive the Porsche back up on the lift. Then I can easily get to the starter. If that's not the issue then I can still raise the lift enough to easily get under the dash test the ignition switch.

Iv done it but I cant remember which car. Probably not the 911. Its a low gear so you will have to get going kinda fast for it to bump over without just skidding to a hault.

I’ve push started a few cars in reverse before. Definitely doable. Never done it on a 911 though.

I used to do it all the time in my 914. Didn’t take much to get it started.

No big deal to do. I did it many times in my 914 and a few times in my 911.

Can be done in reverse.

I think it would be ok but would not want to make a habit of it.

Why not just buy a new battery, if you think the one you have is toast?

I think you'll be forced to buy a battery if you end up backing the full length of your driveway and still not get your car started.

H-

I think it's probably not a big deal to do once or twice, gently. I wouldn't make a habit of it. The general rule is to do it in 3rd gear (going forward), so that you don't put a big ol' shock load on the reverse gear (or other low gears), which aren't designed for that.

Hi, l believe he said he has a new battery but just getting a click when trying to start. I would double check the voltage of your new battery, and besides the starter, l would check the ground straps. After everything checks out, l would measure the voltage at the starter and compare it to the battery terminal voltage to eliminate voltage drop as the culprit.
Pete

Wait. You charged the 9 yr old batt and it started, but didn't hold a charge,....

Then you got a new one and no start?

How do you know the new one was 100% charged??
Use a voltmeter, should be 12.7 or so. If not, take it back.

Also, check the connections and cables and clamps because those have been disturbed.
And the ground strap connection point.

Basics first before assuming.

Yes, it will start in this manner but not something to do regularly. When my ignition switch took a dump, I was out of town. Had to park on an incline with a clear path in front or behind me or get my buddy to give a push.
Very humbling to have people watch as I roll started or push started a Porsche:)

Can you get someone to give you a tow start? You could let it roll down your drive onto the street and get a tow then swap the cars round so that you can use your lift to give access to the starter.


Roy

Tried a start with charger connected, nope. Tried bouncing back and forth in gear, nope. so tomorrow will push out of garage and tow back onto the lift. curious as the starter is only 3 years old. Once I can get under and chk the wires
I should know what's not working.

As long as your 911 doesn’t have electronic fuel injection. Ain’t gonna push start a car unless it has a carb. Ask me how I know. Talk about embarrassing trying to push start my 87 911!

If the starter is bad, but the wiring and battery is OK, then yes, you should be able to push start in most cases regardless of carbs vs injection.

Gotta try this sometime when I don’t need it!

I've bump started mine with CIS multiple times. Don't ask...

I used to bump start my Nova, my 510 and my Beetle. No big deal. 911 won’t start no problem bump start it. Except I couldn’t. My guess is the electric fuel pump makes it difficult

If your battery is completely dead, yea, push starting is rather difficult without a long hill.

If it is just the starter that has heat soak, and will not spin, push starting my 85 911 is easy. I pulled up to the front entrance at the Hershey hotel and after checking in, the starter was locked up. It was rather embarrassing to get some help pushing it, but it fired right up. As soon as the starter cooled off, (30 minutes or so) it worked fine.

All fuel injected cars need enough voltage to run the injection computer.

My brother's daily driver is a 1954 VW bug. He drove to work in the rain, and left the headlight on all day at work. The battery was totally dead after an 8 hour shift. He asked some 20 something year old co-workers to give him a push. They replied we ain't pushing you home. He said no need, just get me rolling. It fired right up, and he drove home. They were flabbergasted it was possible to push start a car. They all drove modern automatic transmission cars.