Starting up with ECU key

[yeti]

I'm not getting any better at starting it up and am beginning to wonder if there's a clutch position sensor that could be intermittent..?

I have a manual Vantage and would be interested to know other manual owner's procedures please.

Currently I place the key to first indent, still sticking out 2cm or so.
Seat belt, foot on clutch, press key until flush. No red 'ready' light, so no start when pushed in. That is following the handbook instructions.

If I go from first indent to push key right in, car starts every time. I know it's OK to do this but I want that bit of theatre...

I don't know how to get the system check text to run and then start the car. It works one time in 5 maybe? I don't know what I do differently when it does start which is why I wonder if it's the car...

[LTP]

yeti said:

I'm not getting any better at starting it up and am beginning to wonder if there's a clutch position sensor that could be intermittent..?

I have a manual Vantage and would be interested to know other manual owner's procedures please.

Currently I place the key to first indent, still sticking out 2cm or so.
Seat belt, foot on clutch, press key until flush. No red 'ready' light, so no start when pushed in. That is following the handbook instructions.

If I go from first indent to push key right in, car starts every time. I know it's OK to do this but I want that bit of theatre...

I don't know how to get the system check text to run and then start the car. It works one time in 5 maybe? I don't know what I do differently when it does start which is why I wonder if it's the car...

I know I've responded before with my "slam it in" approach and I don't have a manual, also as I said before. And my owner's Manual says to push the key straight to Position III to start the car. Having said all of that, when I have tried to demonstrate the "theatre" to a passenger new to these cars, what I have found is getting the "key" into Position II where the manual says to push it gently until flush with the bezel can be tricky and if you push it in just a liiitle too far, the car won't crank and I have to start over.

What I think is happening is the ECU dock and associated electronics has a logic so you can't accidentally push the key to "crank" on an engine that has started and smash the starter pinion and flywheel, and the system thinks a second push to Position III without going through Position I is a command to stop the engine. This means that if you accidentally push the key just a tad too far in when looking for Position II the system thinks you've already tried Position III and won't allow you a second bite at cranking, resulting in you having to take the key out and start again - I have found exactly this. I doubt that there's anything wrong with your clutch pedal sensors or key dock as you say it works 100% reliably if you don't faff about, so I wouldn't worry.

This is just my opinion, based on my experiences. So you're going to have to get better at finessing the key so you can get your "Ooooh, text...red light" moment, or just start the bloody thing and enjoy the reliable, 5-out-of-5 theatre of the engine firing with the exhaust valves open, then settling to a V8 idle.

Mind you, if you want the full theatre then don't put your foot on the clutch at the start, just push the key in to Position II until the key dock illuminates white (and I think you get the scrolling text). Then put your foot on the clutch without touching the key and the dock turns red ("Oooh!") showing cranking is available. Finally you can press the key in the now-red dock to Position III and bring the noise.

[P155flaps]

yeti said:

I'm not getting any better at starting it up and am beginning to wonder if there's a clutch position sensor that could be intermittent..?

I have a manual Vantage and would be interested to know other manual owner's procedures please.

Currently I place the key to first indent, still sticking out 2cm or so.
Seat belt, foot on clutch, press key until flush. No red 'ready' light, so no start when pushed in. That is following the handbook instructions.

If I go from first indent to push key right in, car starts every time. I know it's OK to do this but I want that bit of theatre...

I don't know how to get the system check text to run and then start the car. It works one time in 5 maybe? I don't know what I do differently when it does start which is why I wonder if it's the car...

I had this exact issue in mine and 2 things sorted.

One, some electrical contact cleaner on sides of key and inserting in and out about 20 times.

Two the technique I was using slightly. I slowly press in and as the screen starts to lift complete the push in (whole process about 10 seconds). But when it’s fully inserted I keep pushed in for a few seconds and it turns red and starts.

Now works every time without fail. Before was about 1 in 10.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Try pushing with the flat of your finger instead of the tip. It prevents slight overshoots of the flush key position. Using two fingers in the flat position is even better.

[Caslad]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Try pushing with the flat of your finger instead of the tip. It prevents slight overshoots of the flush key position. Using two fingers in the flat position is even better.

This is what I do (2010 DBS). Very gently too.

[Handyman2009]

Caslad said:

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Try pushing with the flat of your finger instead of the tip. It prevents slight overshoots of the flush key position. Using two fingers in the flat position is even better.

This is what I do (2010 DBS). Very gently too.

Same here and it works everytime

[alscar]

I got over the theatre bit quite quickly and just want the car to start each time

[Emilio Largo]

LTP said:

I know I've responded before ....., if you want the full theatre then don't put your foot on the clutch at the start, just push the key in to Position II until the key dock illuminates white (and I think you get the scrolling text). Then put your foot on the clutch without touching the key and the dock turns red ("Oooh!") showing cranking is available. Finally you can press the key in the now-red dock to Position III and bring the noise.

So did I. He doesn´t seem to take notice, though, hence I deleted my post on the other thread. Waste of time.

[yeti]

LTP said:

Mind you, if you want the full theatre then don't put your foot on the clutch at the start, just push the key in to Position II until the key dock illuminates white (and I think you get the scrolling text). Then put your foot on the clutch without touching the key and the dock turns red ("Oooh!") showing cranking is available. Finally you can press the key in the now-red dock to Position III and bring the noise.

Ta for that - I think because I leave all my cars in gear I’ve always got my foot on the clutch as an autopilot thing. I’ll have to actually think!

Great advice on not pushing it in too far as well, echoed by others.

Right, I’m off out to the garage for a test!

[yeti]

Foot on the clutch at the wrong time was the problem. Repeated it several times and it’s going red when expected now. Thanks for your patience LTP!

However after a successful start I was forced to take it for a roof off blast in the dark around the Surrey Hills for an hour. Can’t let the battery run down…

Lights aren’t too bad considering the age of it.