A (probably daft) question on starting a car
Discussion
yellowjack said:
Scabutz said:
Never put the clutch down. If an engine won't start with the additinal load of spinning a couple of shafts in a gearbox it must be in a pretty poor state.
Probably was different 50 years ago but I've never done it in the last 20.
I ALWAYS push the clutch pedal fully down...Probably was different 50 years ago but I've never done it in the last 20.
...because if I don't, no amount of pressing the "Power" button on the dash will start the car. All you get is some daft message in the dash display saying "Press clutch to start".
This is my first car where I've needed to do this but after six years of ownership, I suppose it's probably become an ingrained habit now. not that I imagine it'll do any harm to a car that doesn't need it.
It can be a pain, though, if you want to start the car on the drive to have a look under the bonnet with the engine running. Got to get at least one leg in as far as the clutch pedal to do so, not a simple turn of a key like the olden days. I assume it's a safety device to prevent inadvertent starting by youngsters "playing driving" in dad's car, or accidentally putting your hand on the starter button while cleaning the interior with the remote fob in your pocket...
Pica-Pica said:
yellowjack said:
Scabutz said:
Never put the clutch down. If an engine won't start with the additinal load of spinning a couple of shafts in a gearbox it must be in a pretty poor state.
Probably was different 50 years ago but I've never done it in the last 20.
I ALWAYS push the clutch pedal fully down...Probably was different 50 years ago but I've never done it in the last 20.
...because if I don't, no amount of pressing the "Power" button on the dash will start the car. All you get is some daft message in the dash display saying "Press clutch to start".
This is my first car where I've needed to do this but after six years of ownership, I suppose it's probably become an ingrained habit now. not that I imagine it'll do any harm to a car that doesn't need it.
It can be a pain, though, if you want to start the car on the drive to have a look under the bonnet with the engine running. Got to get at least one leg in as far as the clutch pedal to do so, not a simple turn of a key like the olden days. I assume it's a safety device to prevent inadvertent starting by youngsters "playing driving" in dad's car, or accidentally putting your hand on the starter button while cleaning the interior with the remote fob in your pocket...
RobM77 said:
Good point, but on icy mornings it's a little annoying to not be able to just reach in quickly and turn the engine on whilst you de-ice the car, or for those people with driveway and gates, go back inside for a few minutes whilst the car warms up. This is even more annoying if you've got a very muddy driveway or thick snow on the ground.
Still possible with long legs or a big pole. 
Evening all,
I used to not bother with the clutch , as I have not owned a car modern (picky?) enough for it to be an issue. But then I tried to start my dad's mondeo once, and forgot I had left it in reverse, as it was on a slope. The whole car lurched on the starter motor, but luckily didn't hit anything as the handbrake was on!
Lesson duly learnt. Clutch goes down before engine fires up
I used to not bother with the clutch , as I have not owned a car modern (picky?) enough for it to be an issue. But then I tried to start my dad's mondeo once, and forgot I had left it in reverse, as it was on a slope. The whole car lurched on the starter motor, but luckily didn't hit anything as the handbrake was on!
Lesson duly learnt. Clutch goes down before engine fires up
Strudul said:
RobM77 said:
Good point, but on icy mornings it's a little annoying to not be able to just reach in quickly and turn the engine on whilst you de-ice the car, or for those people with driveway and gates, go back inside for a few minutes whilst the car warms up. This is even more annoying if you've got a very muddy driveway or thick snow on the ground.
Still possible with long legs or a big pole. 
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