Sam Nickaby
Drive a manual transmission. You can push start those.
However, caveats:
- unburned fuel-air mixture during the first few cycles can ignite in the exhaust system where it can damage the catalytic converter. You have to weigh the cost of continuing being stranded against the cost of a new catalytic converter. If you are fleeing from a natural disaster, and your car won't start, who cares about the converter, right? :)
- the engine might not still not start due to the ECU and surrounding components being adequately powered.
You know, you could just carry an extra battery in your trunk if you're that absent-minded. Check it once in a while to make sure it's charged.
Also, a battery never completely runs "dry". What you do is turn off everything that was draining the battery (dome light, stereo, headlights). Then leave the car alone for 15, 20 minutes. Chemicals in the battery might redistribute themselves to build up enough concentration to provide enough current to start the car.
How is that going to work? You won't charge the battery from a few revolutions of the alternator. It could provide enough current to spark the engine if someone turns the ignition key at the same time. But then, the belt is off!!! How is the engine going to continue running on a dead battery, and no belt to the alternator?
