No, you generally cannot push-start a modern fuel-injected car. Unlike older cars with carburetors, fuel-injected vehicles rely on an electric fuel pump and a complex network of sensors controlled by an Engine Control Unit (ECU). For the engine to run, it needs high-pressure fuel delivery and precise electronic signals, which require significant battery power. If your battery is too dead to crank the starter motor, it's almost certainly too dead to power these essential systems, making a push-start attempt futile.
The process of push-starting, or bump-starting, works on manual transmission cars by using the vehicle's momentum to turn the engine over mechanically. However, this only addresses the mechanical side of the equation. The ECU needs to activate the electric fuel pump in the tank to build pressure in the fuel rail. It also needs to read data from crankshaft position sensors and other sources to correctly time the fuel injectors and spark plugs. A deeply discharged battery cannot supply the stable voltage these components need to initialize and operate.
Attempting a push-start on an automatic transmission car is not just ineffective; it can potentially damage the transmission. There's no mechanical connection between the wheels and the engine in an automatic like there is in a manual; the torque converter prevents this direct link.
Your safest and most reliable course of action is to use a jump-start from another vehicle or a portable jump-starter pack. This provides the necessary electrical power to run the car's computers and pumps, allowing the engine to start normally. If jump-starting doesn't work, the issue is likely more serious than a dead battery, such as a faulty alternator or starter, and would require professional diagnosis.
