Just curious, how do you all start your car? I have always started mine with the clutch pedal pressed down. I have no idea why but just something I have always done, also when I turn the key I pritty much just turn it all the way round in one go. Are you supposed to turn in half way and wait a bit then turn it the rest of the way?

What does your user manual tell you to do?

I don't know mate, can't find user manual, why I was asking on here. Any advice would be great.

I'll be honest it's never something I've considered, and I ain't been driving long! ?

I tend to just leave the car in neutral with the hand brake on, turn a full turn (only really need ignition if you want to check something), leave a couple of seconds after ignition before whacking clutch down, in gear and off I go! ?


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Yes the right way is to press the clutch all the way in and wait for the warning lights and the fuel pump to go off before starting the engine.

(manual says the same btw)

The manual for my Evo instructs you to press the clutch every start. I assume this is for plebs who may have left their car in gear. Makes no difference if you're already in neutral.

AdamEvo said:

The manual for my Evo instructs you to press the clutch every start. I assume this is for plebs who may have left their car in gear. Makes no difference if you're already in neutral.

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No..,
if you leave clutch UP you are also turning part of the gearbox internals,

ever noticed the wheels "idling.." despite being in NEUTRAL..

in VERY cold weather when gearoil is like GREASE,
it'll put a BIG strain on battery and starter.

:yeahthat:

Exactly. It's easier for the starter to turn without turning the shafts in the gearbox.

Wow, my instructor never told me about this, just told me to turn the engine straight on.

Faults on me for not properly reading the manual like iTunes terms and conditions, but I'll be doing this from now on!

Does this cause considerable damage (turning straight on with clutch up) or does it reduce the life of the starter?


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Always pressed the clutch in, be it cars in gear or not. Never thought of the gears turning too and the extra strain (learn something new everyday)

However nowadays 90% of new cars require you to press the clutch before turning over the engine and it wont go otherwise.

As for ignition i turn on wait a second or two then turn over it gives fuel pump enough time to pump enough fuel to the engine etc. If it was diesel you need to wait until glow plug light goes out.

varesecrazy said:

No..,
if you leave clutch UP you are also turning part of the gearbox internals,

ever noticed the wheels "idling.." despite being in NEUTRAL..

in VERY cold weather when gearoil is like GREASE,
it'll put a BIG strain on battery and starter.

Click to expand...

Today, I learnt something. Thank you.

Lambie said:

Does this cause considerable damage (turning straight on with clutch up) or does it reduce the life of the starter?


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Click to expand...

DAMAGE .. no - just extra strain ...,
and the risk the battery won't actually start the car - in cold weather
( as the battery produces less power when "chilled")

i actually did the two-step turn to start the engine. As for disengaging the clutch, i do notice that it cranks faster when clutch is depressed.

i try to make it a habit to depress the clutch everytime; but sometimes i may forget. no issues so far.

I'm old school & this has been a practice of mine for over forty years, any car. Exactly for the reasons given already.

I actually started the car today this way, and noticed a huge difference in the starting. It took the same time, but it sounded a lot healthier!


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Traditionally, it has always been good practice to start with the clutch depressed (because it disengages the gearbox internals). I have to say though, that I haven't ever noticed any difference either way on my daughter's 1.2. Yes, you could argue that you stop the engine having to turn the gearbox internals, but at the sort of speed that cranking occurs, that's really not very much drag! Added to that, whilst you reduce the drag from the gearbox, you INCREASE it in the engine, by increasing the load on the crank thrust bearings slightly (and a bit mroe drag from the clutch release bearing).

Personally, I don't think it's worth worrying about either way. The other advantage is that the car won't jump if you've left it in gear!

As for the ignition key, I've never heard of pausing before going to the cranking position. As has been said, if it's a diesel, then yes, you need to give the glow plugs time to work. If it's a petrol, I can't think it would make any appreciable difference. In a healthy fuel system, the fuel pump should get the system up to pressure practically as fast as the hand can move.