Originally posted by mercman:

Originally posted by gearhead:
When you push the car and then let out the clutch in 1st gear, the engine spins, the alternator puts out voltage and it starts. From there on, it's normal operation.



Thatâ??s not quite true. The alternator needs a field current to produce a magnetic field for the stator. Rotation of the stator in the field produces current. With an alternator, you need current to produce current. In the old days when generators were used, you could get current by rotating the generator because of â??residual magnetismâ? stored in the generator from the fact that the generator is a DC device (alternators produce AC that is rectified to DC). A magnetic field produced by DC current can be used to magnetize and one produce by an AC current can be used to de-magnetize.

To push start car with a PCM and FI, you need at least enough voltage in the battery to run the PCM and enough current to fire the injectors and produce spark.

jeff




1995 SE 2.5L V6/MTX 187k