Technical Car starting without pressing clutch

[Angxlina]

Hey, I’ve been trying to do some research before taking my 2013 Fiat 500 Pop to the garage but I’ve been struggling to find anything conclusive.

Essentially, the car is starting (engine turning fully on, drivable) without depressing the clutch down & relying solely on turning the key. I’m not too technical with cars so as far as I’ve been aware, it shouldn’t do that & I don’t believe it’s done it before?

For context, my stop start hasn’t worked for a long time either (I don’t use it anyway, but frequently get the error “stop start currently unavailable”) which is making me believe it could be an issue with the clutch switch?

My main question is wether this particular model doesn’t require the clutch to be pressed in order to start the car? I know this is the case in some older vehicles but I’m sure mine always needed the clutch in lol!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I don’t want to take it to the garage & have them say there’s nothing wrong with it & it’s completely normal… the check engine light did come on at the time I noticed it too.

Thanks so much in advance

 

[Lounge lizard]

Our 2011 T/A will start without the clutch being depressed, although I think there is a note in the handbook about depressing the clutch to reduce the load when starting...

The battery has to be tip top for the s/s to work.

In the colder weather ours never works, but the car starts fine. It only works odd times during the summer. I just turn it off.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hey, I’ve been trying to do some research before taking my 2013 Fiat 500 Pop to the garage but I’ve been struggling to find anything conclusive.

Essentially, the car is starting (engine turning fully on, drivable) without depressing the clutch down & relying solely on turning the key. I’m not too technical with cars so as far as I’ve been aware, it shouldn’t do that & I don’t believe it’s done it before?

For context, my stop start hasn’t worked for a long time either (I don’t use it anyway, but frequently get the error “stop start currently unavailable”) which is making me believe it could be an issue with the clutch switch?

My main question is wether this particular model doesn’t require the clutch to be pressed in order to start the car? I know this is the case in some older vehicles but I’m sure mine always needed the clutch in lol!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I don’t want to take it to the garage & have them say there’s nothing wrong with it & it’s completely normal… the check engine light did come on at the time I noticed it too.

Thanks so much in advance

I dont think your 500 will NEED the clutch pressed down

 

[John202020]

You can start the car by just turning the key, you don't even need to be in the car just reach in and turn key( manual gearbox in neutral obviously )

 

[vexorg]

The clutch press is a safety feature on a lot of new car, I presume to stop you starting it in gear. One of the many modern features for idiot drivers, audi (or maybe bmw) also wouldn't start without the seat belt done.

The loading of the gearbox in neutral is minimal, I cant see a health battery/starter ever having any issue wuth the loading.

 

[typecastboy]

I have had 89 Fiat 500s, two of them needed the clutch depressed to start them. Weird!!

 

[chris3234]

That pretty normal don't think the 500 has clutch starter interlock

 

[Ralf S.]

I think "clutch pressed in" is a moron-lock for newer cars.

I'm not sure whether my 2022X has it (vaguely remember seeing something in the manual, but I always check it's in neutral and press the clutch in anyway, so I maybe just haven't encountered it). It's a bit like the "foot brake must be applied" for auto boxes (which might be the note I'm thinking about, rather than clutch). I'll try it later, to see what it does.

Anyhow.. Rasputin the Younger Mrs S's 2013 500 Pop starts without the clutch in, so yours is the same as hers in that regard.


Ralf S.