can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on - Chat Forum https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/ Singletrack World Magazine Forum. Come for the bikes, stay for the boll**ks en-GB Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:32:35 +0000 wpForo 60 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397045 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:49:33 +0000 coffeeking, since when has it been possible to bump start any diesel? I thought they were unbumpable...

You thought very wrong :D We had a dicky battery on an old diesel, we used to use the 2m steep drivespace behind teh car to bump it in reverse each morning to save stressing the battery lol.

If any car was going to be bumpable it would be a D, as it is compression ignition - all you need is a little fuel in there and sufficient piston speed to compress it before the charge leaks past the rings and it'll go bang :) More modern D's require the electrics to be running and the high pressure pump to be turning so they're a bit more picky, but still possible with a run up.

]]> Chat Forum coffeeking https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397045 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397044 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:32:41 +0000 lupo is now going thansk to some borrowed jump leads

thanks

]]> Chat Forum stonemonkey https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397044 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397043 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:33:23 +0000 coffeeking, since when has it been possible to bump start any diesel? I thought they were unbumpable...

I have bumped my diesel even with veggie oil in the tank, and even without enough power to light the glow plugs. It took a few goes though and we had to tow it up the hill of which I live at the bottom a few times. Pain in the arse, and it only worked once, didn't work another time we tried it.

I've also bumped a small petrol car (old skool one tho sans electronics) on a very small hill. The battery was flat enough not to click when I turned it on, but still got it started.

]]> Chat Forum molgrips https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397043 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397042 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:13:22 +0000 Wait for your MOT emissions test before being so confident grasshopper.

edit: read things properly before replying samuri

]]> Chat Forum samuri https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397042 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397041 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:08:38 +0000 coffeeking, since when has it been possible to bump start any diesel? I thought they were unbumpable...

Bump started my transit a couple of weeks back and it's been fine...

]]> Chat Forum Sam https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397041 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397040 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:01:25 +0000 Petrol NO chance .. need power to generate a spark etc and in order for the alternator to charge the engine must be running but in order for the spark the alternator must be working .. best case it will start and stall very quickly thereafter.
Diesel will bump depending on how the fuel is controlled(mechanical pump and no elctric solenoid) you can actually do this without a battery attached if you want!!!! the compression of Diesel is what ignites it and it does not require a spark or electrical power ... the fact the diesel engine is cold though means you are unlikely to start it in the real world but you would on a very big hill.

]]> Chat Forum Junkyard https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397040 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397039 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:47:39 +0000 coffeeking, since when has it been possible to bump start any diesel? I thought they were unbumpable...

]]> Chat Forum sq225917 https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397039 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397038 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:08:46 +0000 Just get the jump leads! But, Get yourself some jump leads and a spare car, watch out for the leads melting and fire the slave car up as soon as poss, and take it for a good run - make sure to disconnect the jump leads before you do this.

]]> Chat Forum deadlydarcy https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397038 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397037 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:53:12 +0000 Don't try and bump start it if it has a catalytic converter!
Bump starting will/may introduce petrol into the exhast system
with is very bad for the cat, or at least that is what they told me.

]]> Chat Forum grahamh https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397037 Re: can i bump start a car even if i cant get the ignition light to come on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397036 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:48:43 +0000 ok thanks everyone i also live at the top of a big hill and reckon i could get the car upto 25 mph but i might buy some decent leads tomorrow to be on the safe side

]]> Chat Forum stonemonkey https://singletrackworld.com/forum/off-topic/can-i-bump-start-a-car-even-if-i-cant-get-the-ignition-light-to-come-on/#post-397036