Pressing in the Clutch pedal when starting car?

kluivert

Got a 02 Mondeo 1.8 at the weekend.

Reading manual and it says when starting the car, depress the clutch fully in.

The wifes 05 Astra manual says the same.

I have never done this with my old car and on the wifes can.

What is the advantages to pressing in the clutch pedal before starting the car.

miller50841

It's in case you left the car in gear and the car would take off.

Some car's won't start if you don't press in the clutch.

alo1587

Most modern cars now have a clutch switch fitted as the previous poster said.Also puts a small bit less stress on the starter as the main shaft of the gearbox doesnt have to be turned when you have the clutch pressed in.

tossy

Most modern cars have it built in as a safety feature now -car won't start unless Clutch is pressed.

I scanned a B6 passat for a guy on here (i think) years ago and there was a fault with this system so it never worked and he never knew about it(neither did i) I cleared the codes he wanted cleared and cleared the fault with the clutch switch too,was in a hurry so didn't even see the fault code.

He was delighted with the fault being cleared and i was packing up my laptop about to get on my way,then he went to start it and the engine wouldn't even turn over......oh oh! i'm after breaking this lads wifes car (honey that guy i met onthe interent broke your car,his name was tossy) ,i knew this amateur diagnostics craic would bite me eventually,after a bit of head scratching i said press the clutch and try it and the car started,i then re traced my steps and realised what had happened,the result being he was doubly delighted i had cleared his fault codes and unlocked a new safety feature he didn't realise he had

Nissan doctor

As above, its a safety feature but also means that the gearbox is dis-engaged from the engine when you start the car so the starter doesn't have to turn the mass of both engine and gearbox.

langdang

Nissan doctor wrote: »

As above, its a safety feature but also means that the gearbox is dis-engaged from the engine when you start the car so the starter doesn't have to turn the mass of both engine and gearbox.

Why would anyone NOT do it , especially on a cold morning? Maybe I'm too used to driving less than new cars with less than new batteries...

Senna

I always done it but never knew why I was doing it, so now I know, it puts less stress on the starter:D

BostonB

Curious how people were taught to drive if you didn't know this?

qz

BostonB wrote: »

Curious how people were taught to drive if you didn't know this?

I was never taught to do it.

Stheno

Senna wrote: »

I always done it but never knew why I was doing it, so now I know, it puts less stress on the starter:D

I'm the same.

BostonB wrote: »

Curious how people were taught to drive if you didn't know this?

This is how I was taught to drive, first time out I was taught to use the clutch and release it to get the car moving , but never told why to always start with the clutch in. Then I later got told to always park in gear, and by default do so, so I have to clutch to start and it's automatic now.

Cedrus

I learned on a motorbike before I went near a car.
Park in gear, start in neutral, pull in the clutch just in case there is any clinging (or forgetfulness).
You only start a bike in gear once.

kirving

There's a clutch sensor on my mothers Mk1 Focus. I always thought it was to ensure your foot was on the clutch before the starter would turn, but you can start in gear (causing the car to jump). Any ideas what it would be for, if not this?

biko

You should park in 1st gear instead of using only the handbrake, hence the need for pressing clutch down so car doesn't jump.

inforfun

My car will not even enable the start button unless i press the clutch.
Any car before i automatically used the clutch as well as i always leave the car in gear, never on handbrake. Unless i am parked somewhere up or down hill.

K.Flyer

When I was learning to drive I was told to always check you are in nuetral first and press the clutch before starting the engine as it helped the life of the battery and made it easier to start.
As for parking, was also told not to park in gear and just use the parking brake unless parked on an incline, then use the gear box to assist the parking brake and turn the wheels towards the kerb. Still do.

bbam

My OH's Citroen C4 GP has an electric handbrake, handy enough in some scenarios but I find that when starting the car, if you depress the clutch and start it will release the damn handbrake within about 5 seconds.. I've nearly rolled into a few cars because of it..
She has gotten into the habit of putting car into neutral but I'm old school and press the clutch down when starting the car, or any car...

Anyone else notice this ??

kluivert

Thanks for all the comments.

Got a little bit educated today.

lway

Kevin Irving wrote: »

There's a clutch sensor on my mothers Mk1 Focus. I always thought it was to ensure your foot was on the clutch before the starter would turn, but you can start in gear (causing the car to jump). Any ideas what it would be for, if not this?

Does the car have Cruise control or does it come with a Cruise Control option ? On my car the Cruise Control disengages when you touch either the Brake or Clutch pedals. The sensor might be for this.

SouperComputer

Nissan doctor wrote: »

As above, its a safety feature but also means that the gearbox is dis-engaged from the engine when you start the car so the starter doesn't have to turn the mass of both engine and gearbox.

This.

Especially when its super cold. Means that the starter is turning the engine only, rather than having to rotating the input shaft in the gearbox as well fight the resistance of the cold oil in there. It can help on days were your car it just teetering on the edge of firing up.

kirving

lway wrote: »

Does the car have Cruise control or does it come with a Cruise Control option ? On my car the Cruise Control disengages when you touch either the Brake or Clutch pedals. The sensor might be for this.

That makes sense alright. May as well install the same wiring loom in all models, and only add in the CC buttons when needed. Thanks.

BostonB

SouperComputer wrote: »

This.

Especially when its super cold. Means that the starter is turning the engine only, rather than having to rotating the input shaft in the gearbox as well fight the resistance of the cold oil in there. It can help on days were your car it just teetering on the edge of firing up.

I didn't know about the input shaft. You think it would noticeable?