No. It isn't the fault of the car. It is the fault of the driver for not understanding the basics of mechanics and not having taken sensible precautions.

I can offer further advice to the unenlightened. In winter, or at any other time if leaving a car for a long period - do not apply the handbrake, which may bind - rather, leave the car in gear alone and make sure it isn't on a slope.

The 'correlation' was to do with general mechanical and driving awareness, and common sense. But I do understand that 'individuality' must out, and so I'll not rail against the bulbs and the tints, unless the owner can't see out properly and so drives into me!

I do rail against danglies hanging from their rear view mirrors though - I almost forgot those. Naff as buggery

Suasexed said:

Nope... it's 2008 after all

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Yeah, but most of my other cars arn't from any where near this century! lol

(so I still leave mine in gear)

Jim

my uno is on axle stands thats why my hand brake isn't on

Andy Monty said:

problem is most cars are now most user unfriendly and everything is hidden or hard to get at, hell the old fiesta you could get at the oil filter from the top of the engine bay with both hands no chance on a modern car....

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true but customers demand larger interior space,more extras (air-con etc) plus modern safety items (ABS etc) & EOBD components all eat up valuable engine space.....and safety aswell which is why starter motors mounted at front of engine have safety cuts outs like croma etc.

Ulpian said:

The gearbox is attached to the crankshaft, until the clutch disengages it. Consequently, if you don't depress the clutch on starting the starter motor will have to churn a whole mass of 'dead' metal besides the pistons and crankshaft. This leads to excessive wear on the starter motor and more load placed on the battery.

When I was a kid it was standard procedure to always keep the clutch down on starting - also, it is a safety measure in case you are accidentally in gear. I mean, as a security measure we all leave our cars in gear as well as with the handbrake on, don't we?

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However, the other arguement is that by depressing the clutch you are forcing the crank against the thrust washers when there is no oil pressure to keep them separated. I must be much older as this was an issue with Triumph six cylinder units, and A30s.

Cheers

D

lol! ac30 sounds familiar...
is it an austin? i think my grandad had one back in the day

i only ever dip my clutch on start up when it is in gear. shouldnt make any difference to the car if it is neutral. i always park my car in gear incase the hand brake goes always have done and always will. i'm 19 and had my license 2 1/2 years. i was never taught this by my driving instructor its what i learnt from my dad and from TV.

Two things -

The 500 handbook actually does tell you to depress the clutch when starting the engine, which did surprise me. Such advice seems very old-fashioned.

On the petrol models, when you first turn the ignition on the fuel pump has to prime the injection system. You can hear it running, then stop. Perhaps, if you are a bit hasty on the starter you might well find the engine slow to fire up, so wait for the pump.

John

Andy Monty said:

the handbrake will hold the car in normal circumstances however if you have had a long drive on twisty b-roads with a bit of weight in the car your brakes get hot and the discs (for arguments sake could also happen to drums) and pads/shoes expand due to basic physics due to the heat derived from friction you then pull your handbrake on firmly and all is well until they cool down, at which point they shrink resulting in decreased force been applied at the interface between the disc and pad.

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No applicable with drums though mate as the drum contracts as it cools, causing the hanbrake to improve

Mark Elvin said:

No applicable with drums though mate as the drum contracts as it cools, causing the hanbrake to improve

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oops

unonumero said:

lol! ac30 sounds familiar...
is it an austin? i think my grandad had one back in the day

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No, an AC30 is a Vox amplifier favoured by beat combos of the 60s.

An A30 is an Austin.

Cheers

D

Some cars won't start without your foot on the clutch, a bit like motorbikes.
My neighbour has a Nissan 350Z and the day he got it he tried to start it in the drive to let me hear the engine, wouldn't start.........I suggested he put his foot on the clutch and retry.....hey presto.