24-03-2020, 08:21 PM
Yes, 3rd gear and "tickle" rather than "dump" the clutch. Usually smoother than using the starter motor. As you say, de-clutch ASAP.
Having said that, I probably wouldn't risk it on these engines given the reported experiences out there (even if it was from people with less than subtle clutch control - perhaps?). When they started telling me my battery was getting old, I'd bump-start my Focus at every opportunity, but then, it's a petrol engine with a belt rather than a chain. Reminded me of my early days of driving in ancient cars with knackered everything
The other problem with a dead battery is how to recover from a stall? Happens to the best of us. Especially my wife's Fiesta, which is mostly impossible to stall, but very occasionally it stalls if you look at it. No idle control valve - it's fly-by-wire - so presumably this is software acting up.
I remember when I was thinking of replacing the Focus when it was still worth something (perhaps back in 2006, give or take, probably not long after our first child arrived and I started to realise how much stuff you need to lug about!), a diesel Mondeo estate was top of my list. Back then my mileage was higher, but probably not really high enough for diesel if I'm honest. I can't remember for sure why I decided against it in the end. I did find a few horror stories about the engine (which you can obviously do for just about any car out there), and it would have been really awkward fitting it on the drive. I was really taken with the next generation version as well - I drove about 300 miles in an automatic diesel hire car about 8 years back, and it really sold the concept of auto gearboxes in large cars to me. Especially when you use cruise control
Of course, no option to bump-start with an auto - a torque-converter type, at least. And no doubt the button (rather than key) starting makes all this difficult as well. Good news for the breakdown companies
Having said that, I probably wouldn't risk it on these engines given the reported experiences out there (even if it was from people with less than subtle clutch control - perhaps?). When they started telling me my battery was getting old, I'd bump-start my Focus at every opportunity, but then, it's a petrol engine with a belt rather than a chain. Reminded me of my early days of driving in ancient cars with knackered everything
The other problem with a dead battery is how to recover from a stall? Happens to the best of us. Especially my wife's Fiesta, which is mostly impossible to stall, but very occasionally it stalls if you look at it. No idle control valve - it's fly-by-wire - so presumably this is software acting up.
I remember when I was thinking of replacing the Focus when it was still worth something (perhaps back in 2006, give or take, probably not long after our first child arrived and I started to realise how much stuff you need to lug about!), a diesel Mondeo estate was top of my list. Back then my mileage was higher, but probably not really high enough for diesel if I'm honest. I can't remember for sure why I decided against it in the end. I did find a few horror stories about the engine (which you can obviously do for just about any car out there), and it would have been really awkward fitting it on the drive. I was really taken with the next generation version as well - I drove about 300 miles in an automatic diesel hire car about 8 years back, and it really sold the concept of auto gearboxes in large cars to me. Especially when you use cruise control
Of course, no option to bump-start with an auto - a torque-converter type, at least. And no doubt the button (rather than key) starting makes all this difficult as well. Good news for the breakdown companies
