V12 Startup Procedure

[stimshady]

When i was at the garage last weekend, i was advised to dip the clutch before inserting and pressing the key. Is this really necessary?

(Picking up tomorrow morning, actually haven't felt this excited...well, ever!)

[AMDBSNick]

stimshady said:

Is this really necessary?

Only if you want her to start.

BTW you didn't hang about

[stimshady]

Ahh, ok, so it actually wont start if you don't dip... Fair enough!


Well, i have appeared to not hang about, although have been keeping my eye open for over a year now...

Edited by stimshady on Tuesday 14th May 09:05

[hornbaek]

AMDBSNick said:

Only if you want her to start.

BTW you didn't hang about

You have to press the key slowly into the slot while holding down the clutch - if you do it too quickly it will not start.

[yeti]

AMDBSNick said:

stimshady said:

Is this really necessary?

Only if you want her to start.

Good luck with the purchase

[jonby]

From memory, you had to do this on manual cars before the 'ECU' - you turned the key, then pressed the clutch and whilst doing so, pressed the start button

The ECU simply combines key & start button into one operation but you still need to press the clutch on all manuals before inserting the ECU to start the car

[Zod]

jonby said:

From memory, you had to do this on manual cars before the 'ECU' - you turned the key, then pressed the clutch and whilst doing so, pressed the start button

The ECU simply combines key & start button into one operation but you still need to press the clutch on all manuals before inserting the ECU to start the car

Yes, which is why the ECU is an advance over the key - one less step in the operation.

The switch under the clutch pedal in my DB9 failed at one point and the car simply could not be started.

[jonby]

Zod said:

jonby said:

From memory, you had to do this on manual cars before the 'ECU' - you turned the key, then pressed the clutch and whilst doing so, pressed the start button

The ECU simply combines key & start button into one operation but you still need to press the clutch on all manuals before inserting the ECU to start the car

Yes, which is why the ECU is an advance over the key - one less step in the operation.

The switch under the clutch pedal in my DB9 failed at one point and the car simply could not be started.

Of course on 2 pedal cars, you have to press the brake for the same reason

I wonder why ? In either instance, it doesn't add to security or safety, unless I'm missing something ?

I just wish they would have a way of recognising you have a (lighter/smaller) ecu on your person that enabled you to press a start button. THe ECU, as we all know, looks lovely, but is a pain, heavy, expensive, damages easily, etc. What do you do when you have the car valet parked or washed - give them a glass key that you are petrified they will damage (and they have no way of hanging up or attaching to a key ring/hook) or carry the ridiculously cheap plastic key with you, instead of (?) or in addition (?) to the glass key, neither of which is ideal

Classic case of looks good, gets plenty of admiring glances, but not very practical....

[Zod]

jonby said:

Of course on 2 pedal cars, you have to press the brake for the same reason

I wonder why ? In either instance, it doesn't add to security or safety, unless I'm missing something ?

It stops Americans driving into walls or other parked cars when they start the car and thus avoids ridiculous damages claims.

[goddo]

Zod, I see you have the same misgivings with our American friends as me!!

[jonby]

Zod said:

jonby said:

Of course on 2 pedal cars, you have to press the brake for the same reason

I wonder why ? In either instance, it doesn't add to security or safety, unless I'm missing something ?

It stops Americans driving into walls or other parked cars when they start the car and thus avoids ridiculous damages claims.

brilliant !

[Jon39]

jonby said:

The ECU, as we all know, looks lovely, but is a pain, heavy, expensive, damages easily, etc.

Agree.

For the precise reasons you state Jonby, I never use it. Therefore a completely useless, out of sight ornament.

Annoyingly, the plastic ones are of not very good quality. It is not easy to identify the button symbols. Have they been improved since Model Year 2009?

[KarlFranz]

Zod said:

It stops Americans driving into walls or other parked cars when they start the car and thus avoids ridiculous damages claims.

Um. Wasn't it a certain Brit on this forum who had his front end repaired only to drive into a parking garage wall upon delivery? I really don't understand the constant pokes at Americans from some of the people on this forum. Joking or not, it reflects a certain underlying resentment.

[Zod]

KarlFranz said:

Zod said:

It stops Americans driving into walls or other parked cars when they start the car and thus avoids ridiculous damages claims.

Um. Wasn't it a certain Brit on this forum who had his front end repaired only to drive into a parking garage wall upon delivery? I really don't understand the constant pokes at Americans from some of the people on this forum. Joking or not, it reflects a certain underlying resentment.

It's not a poke at Americans. It's a poke at the litigation culture there. They are no more likely to do stupid things than we are. They are, however, far more likely to decide it is not their fault and sue for millions in damages.

[Jon39]

Zod said:

It's not a poke at Americans. It's a poke at the litigation culture there.

It appears that it might now be widespread in the UK.

I recently watched a TV police programme, showing the aftermath of a motorway road traffic accident. As the police arrived at the scene, the occupants of one vehicle, who had been arguing with the other motorist, ran back to their car and all claimed to be in agony. The car was cut open and each occupant was placed on a stretcher, then taken to hospital.

The police, ambulance staff and fire brigade all knew it was a sham, but were unable to establish proof.

What are things coming to?

...................................

Rather off-topic I am afraid Matt.

Enjoy your new car. What a beauty.

Pressing the clutch is just the first thing. Don't forget to warn your passenger, before you press the accelerator.
BANG GOES HEAD ON SEAT BACK - WONDERFUL

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 14th May 19:45

[DangerMonkey]

I start all manual cars with this method anyway. Not does it only guarantee not bouncing into a wall (I always leave in gear)

1) it puts less load on the starter & 2) consequently must be less drain from the battery too

Edited by DangerMonkey on Tuesday 14th May 18:07

[KarlFranz]

Zod said:

It's not a poke at Americans. It's a poke at the litigation culture there. They are no more likely to do stupid things than we are. They are, however, far more likely to decide it is not their fault and sue for millions in damages.

Isn't it you guys in Eastern and Western Europe that have dash cameras mounted on your cars to protect yourselves against all the ridiculous lawsuits? Sounds like litigation culture is not just an American thing. Thank goodness we don't have that problem here in the US yet.

[Zod]

KarlFranz said:

Zod said:

It's not a poke at Americans. It's a poke at the litigation culture there. They are no more likely to do stupid things than we are. They are, however, far more likely to decide it is not their fault and sue for millions in damages.

Isn't it you guys in Eastern and Western Europe that have dash cameras mounted on your cars to protect yourselves against all the ridiculous lawsuits? Sounds like litigation culture is not just an American thing. Thank goodness we don't have that problem here in the US yet.

That is Russia, you are thinking of; a country with the opposite problem to America's, non-functioning courts.

The US has jury trials for civil liability claims. In some parts of the US, that can result in absurd awards. The UK does not have this problem and nor does most of Europe.

Don't be so sensitive!

[V12Vantage]

My car is not used on a daily basis. Therefore, I hold the accelerator pedal down to prevent the engine starting and spin it over on thed starter until the oil light goes out, then start as normal. It takes 5 - 10 seconds before the oil light goes out.

[PiloteAM]

Zod said:

Yes, which is why the ECU is an advance over the key - one less step in the operation.

The switch under the clutch pedal in my DB9 failed at one point and the car simply could not be started.

Umm...

Put key in lock, turn
Wait for idiot lights to go out
Press clutch
Press start button

Unless with the ECU the idiot lights do thier thing as soon as you unlock? That's the same number of steps.

The glass Start button has a nicer action than the ECU, but the glass ECU is nicer than the Volvo fob in early cars.