Depress the clutch ! My first car was a Cortina MK III , which did not like the cold and damp, depressed the clutch to lessen the load on the battery, hence , now I always depress the clutch when starting the zed and any othe car , strange I depress the brake on the wifes mini, is that because its an automatic ?
How do you start your car?
- Thread starter andysat
- Start date
Does anyone turn the key to the second position and wait a few seconds for everything to initialise then start the engine? When I first got the car I found that if I started it straight away I would sometimes get problems with the DSC and TC lights coming on. Pausing before starting seems to have eliminated this. Anyone else?
Surprised at all the clutch depressers, I can see the point but in over 45 years driving I have never done it always just waggle the gear lever to make sure it's not in gear (I never leave the car in gear except on hills) and turn the key. My first car was a 1931 Austin 7 with the starting handle fitted on a spring but it did have a starter button as well, always used the electric on that one also.
Just to add I am a marine engineer so used to 37,000 hp 71 rpm twin turbo air start no gearbox.
henry1
Just to add I am a marine engineer so used to 37,000 hp 71 rpm twin turbo air start no gearbox.
henry1
chrissrush
Member
Always start the engine with my foot on the clutch.
It disengages gearbox from engine, reduces load on starting system, and perhaps most importantly ensures I can't accidentally start in gear and hit my wifes car!
Also, my previous car ,a 350Z, ( and most, if not all, american cars ) have a starter immobiliser that's disengaged by pressing the clutch, presumably, part of safety legislation so No Clutch = No Start and after 5 years of 350z ownership I just do it naturally!
It disengages gearbox from engine, reduces load on starting system, and perhaps most importantly ensures I can't accidentally start in gear and hit my wifes car!
Also, my previous car ,a 350Z, ( and most, if not all, american cars ) have a starter immobiliser that's disengaged by pressing the clutch, presumably, part of safety legislation so No Clutch = No Start and after 5 years of 350z ownership I just do it naturally!
I always press the clutch too, always have done, do it without even thinking about it.
I used to do the same on my auto SLK, no idea why?Gerry said:
Always with my foot on the clutch pedal. I used to own an ancient 6 volt 1960's VW Beetle in the late 1980's (it was much older than me) and it seemed to start more easily that way. I know this is a new century of car design, but why stress the starter motor any more than it needs? Less drain on the battery too.
As Taz says it's also good practice if you've left the car in gear.
As Taz says it's also good practice if you've left the car in gear.
Only ever had to wait between clicks on the switch when one of the fuel pumps was wonky on my Ford Bronco. (had two pumps, one for pressuring the injection system so had to wait for theat for a good start) It was a known issue with the Fords of that era, got it fixed on recall.... 
Exactly what I do, except that before I drive off I depress the brake pedal to check it feels "normal" - nothing worse than getting to the end of your road and finding you've got no brakes...Adam D said:Jump in, clutch down, waggle gearstick to check neutral selected, turn key to position II - hear fuel pump prime and fire up once system checks are complete.
a11y said:Exactly what I do, except that before I drive off I depress the brake pedal to check it feels "normal" - nothing worse than getting to the end of your road and finding you've got no brakes...Adam D said:Jump in, clutch down, waggle gearstick to check neutral selected, turn key to position II - hear fuel pump prime and fire up once system checks are complete.
SNAP
Further to my previous post:
Daughter 1 - Coopper S -Parked handbrake on out of gear. Brakes cooled and £700 insurance claim for damage to car on other side of Tesco car park
Daughter 2 - Ka - in gear by mistake, no clutch depressing - kangaroo into rear of line of parked cars
Wife - Peugeot 206GTi - in gear by mistake, no clutch depressing = crease in freezer in garage
and to complete the family set - Jeep in gear, low ratio, reached through door window to turn engine over. Fired perfectly and burst through warehouse metal doors.
All FAILS
Daughter 1 - Coopper S -Parked handbrake on out of gear. Brakes cooled and £700 insurance claim for damage to car on other side of Tesco car park
Daughter 2 - Ka - in gear by mistake, no clutch depressing - kangaroo into rear of line of parked cars
Wife - Peugeot 206GTi - in gear by mistake, no clutch depressing = crease in freezer in garage
and to complete the family set - Jeep in gear, low ratio, reached through door window to turn engine over. Fired perfectly and burst through warehouse metal doors.
All FAILS
