Push-starting an Automatic Car. Can It Be Done?

In almost all modern cars with automatic transmissions, it is not possible to push-start the vehicle. An automatic needs internal hydraulic pressure to connect the engine to the wheels, and that pressure only exists when the engine is already running. So even if you push the car fast, the wheels can’t spin the engine. With a dead battery, you’ll need another method (jump-start, booster pack, etc.).

Deep technical explanation

Why manuals can be push-started

A manual transmission has a direct mechanical link between the wheels and the engine when the clutch is engaged. If you roll the car, select a gear, and release the clutch, the wheels directly turn the engine crankshaft. That rotation lets the engine suck in air, spray fuel, ignite, and start running—no starter motor required.

Why are automatics different

Automatic transmissions are not directly connected to the engine. Instead, almost all automatic transmissions use a torque converter, a fluid-coupling device. The torque converter relies on transmission fluid being pumped under high pressure to transfer torque from the engine to the transmission.

To get that pressure, automatics use a hydraulic pump—and in most vehicles, that pump is driven mechanically by the engine, not the wheels.

So here’s the critical loop:

1. Engine turns the pump
2. Pump builds hydraulic pressure
3. Pressure makes the torque converter and clutches engage
4. Wheels receive torque and the vehicle moves

• If the engine isn’t running, the pump doesn’t spin.
• If the pump doesn’t spin, there is no hydraulic pressure.
• If there is no pressure, the wheels cannot spin the engine.
• So pushing the vehicle does nothing—you just roll freely.

Rare exceptions

There are a few unusual cases where an automatic can be bump-started, but they are rare:

1. Very old automatics (mostly pre-1980s)
   Some older 3-speed transmissions used a rear-mounted hydraulic pump that turned when the wheels turned. If you reached enough speed (often 20–30 mph), the pump could build enough pressure for the torque converter to grab and spin the engine.
2. Certain early automatics listed in old owner manuals
   A few old GM, Ford, and Chrysler transmissions allowed push-starting under specific conditions. These cars are now uncommon and instructions varied.
3. Some hybrids / electric-assist vehicles
   If the car has a strong electric motor connected to the drivetrain (Toyota hybrid systems, some plug-ins, some start-stop systems), the electric motor can crank the engine without a starter motor. In that case, the car can start, but because of electronics, it may refuse to “boot up” if the 12-volt battery is dead. This is not truly “push-starting,” but the result can look similar.
4. Dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs)
   Some DCTs behave more like manuals internally, but most still require electrical power and hydraulics to engage clutches. In practice, you still cannot push-start them.

If you own a rare older vehicle, the owner’s manual is the only safe authority.

Safety warnings

• Do not try to push-start a modern automatic.
  You can damage the transmission, torque converter, or clutches.
• Towing while in gear can cause catastrophic damage.
  If the wheels drive internal parts with no lubrication or pump pressure, overheating and scoring can occur.
• Modern vehicles rely on electronics.
  Fuel pumps, ignition coils, ECUs, and safety interlocks require electrical power. Even if you could spin the engine, the computer may simply refuse to start.
• Pushing a car can injure you or others.
  Heavy vehicles, downhill movement, or traffic can turn a push-start attempt into a safety hazard.

Practical alternatives to get an automatic started

✔ Jump-start with another car — safest and most common
✔ Use a portable jump starter / booster pack
✔ Call roadside assistance for a jump or tow
✔ If the shifter is stuck in Park, use the shift-lock override (usually a small slot near the shifter to release it)
✔ If the battery is badly dead, replace it

If towing is required:

• Tow with the drive wheels off the ground (flatbed or wheel-lift) to avoid transmission damage.
• Never tow long distances with the driven wheels rolling freely.

Final summary

• Manuals can be push-started because the wheels directly turn the engine.
• Automatics normally cannot be push-started because they need hydraulic pressure from the engine-driven pump.
• Only a handful of very old automatics or unique hybrid systems could ever do it.
• Use jump-starting or a booster pack instead. It’s safer and won’t damage anything.