Options when you car battery lets you down

[2cv man]

It's a wet evening, you are a mile away from home, you get into the car only to find that the battery is flat. Which of these most describes you - (a) you push the car 20 yards along the road to the start of a downhill where with luck you might bump start it (b) you curse that you don't have an old fashioned car like a morris minor that you can crank up with a starting handle (c) you have a mobile but to get a signal to call the breakdown service you have to walk up the road a quarter of a mile (d) you think "sod the car", leave it and walk home.

[Guest]

It's a wet evening, you are a mile away from home, you get into the car only to find that the battery is flat. Which of these most describes you - (a) you push the car 20 yards along the road to the start of a downhill where with luck you might bump start it (b) you curse that you don't have an old fashioned car like a morris minor that you can crank up with a starting handle (c) you have a mobile but to get a signal to call the breakdown service you have to walk up the road a quarter of a mile (d) you think "sod the car", leave it and walk home.

I would never bump start my own car, I'd have to be a stunt artist to chase it down a hill and jump in the drivers seat. There is always the fear that it won't start and I die crashing into a tree. So I would choose the latter and call the RAC or the AA and make sure my phone battery was fully charged. Is this ok?

[2cv lass]

Yes I think you are right regarding bump starting. It's one thing when there are volunteers around to give a push while you are steering but quite another when you are on your own. So I guess it's a case of phoning for the breakdown people - unless you are lucky like me with the facility to hand crank the engine

[Guest]

Yes I think you are right regarding bump starting. It's one thing when there are volunteers around to give a push while you are steering but quite another when you are on your own. So I guess it's a case of phoning for the breakdown people - unless you are lucky like me with the facility to hand crank the engine

Eh? Hand crank the engine? lol How do you do that?

[franfran]

Yes I think you are right regarding bump starting. It's one thing when there are volunteers around to give a push while you are steering but quite another when you are on your own. So I guess it's a case of phoning for the breakdown people - unless you are lucky like me with the facility to hand crank the engine

Eh? Hand crank the engine? lol How do you do that?

Never heard of using a crank handle? Check this out: Clicky

Mind you though, I don't think there would be any cars made since the 1960s with one.

[AnneCook]

You are right franfran, by the end of the 60's they had stopped making cars with starting handles in the uk. Lots of moggy minors have survived from those days and they have them. A bit like kickstarting it is as much to do with technique as strength. I never owned one but I'm told that 2cv's are one of the hardest engines to turn even though the car itself is lightweight. is that true, does anybody out there have experience??? Moggy minors aren't too bad - at least mine wasn't.

Anne's other half.

[2cv man]

Using the hand crank on a moggie minor or a 2cv really is a case of knowing how to do it rather than brute strength. The 2cv had a handle right up until its demise which unbelievably was as recent as 1990.

Spare a thought now for the land army girls in the Second World War. Many of them drove tractors and some of these (such as the Fordsons of the time) didn't have the luxury of an electric starter! So the women would have to start them up with the hand crank! Things have moved on a bit thank goodness!

[morris Minor fan]

My car is a Morris Minor and the starter motor has just gone kaput. I can't get a new one at the moment so I'm getting plenty of exercise hand cranking it! Surprisingly easy when you know how.
Rachel

[AnneCook]

Good for you. Btw if you can get a new starter motor they are easy to fit on a moggy

[orgasmless2]

one thing for sure with my car i would be totally fooooked!!! firstly its an automatic and weigh s in a 2.5 ton so i got no chance of pushing it if i could!!!!! for me it would be either phone for help or WALK!!!! i dont do walking tho,

[mazzoni]

Hi

As french man I continue this topic with the 2 CV (which is a french symbol like the cheese !).

I think that handcranking was specifically interesting for 2 CV , because the first models have got a specific clutch which forbid to start them with push start, as other old cars.
Handcrank was removed with 12V battery coming, end of 60's or beginning of 70's.

The legend says that some engeneers have built the first model only with handcrank or pull start (like a lawnmower) to earn some weight; and during a show, the Citroen boss's daughter had to do a demonstration that a woman could hanstart; but she failed, crying and broking her hand ! But the head of engeneer has the smile: he had forecasted the electric starter was necessary and he was ready.

I could remind you the 2 CV specification book (one of the version ...) :
- the car must drive 2 farmer with 50 kg potatoes at minimum 50 kmh at least without rain on the head
- the maximum speed of the car could be under 90 kmh
- the price must be under the third of Citroen Traction's price (= head of citroen car in this time)
- she must be drivable by a woman without specficic strength (it was for the e-starter engeneer ! )
- the esthetic look has no importance

As soon as beginning of 70's, this car already looked oldfashion in France, in regards Mini and Renault 5.

Personnaly I have very contrasted memories with 2 CV : some were very reliable (often driven by women or girls) and other could be real bitches when flooded

regards

yann