What is the correct way to start a vehicle?

[Piecey]

I know this is an odd question, but my boyfriend and I have talked amongst ourselves for a week now and have not been able to decide. Do you press the brake down? Do you press it all the way down? Do you put the keys in the ignition and allow it to boot up for a minute first? Do you do nothing at all?

We're mystified as to which is the correct way.

 

[sassyat30]

Um, I put the key in the ignition and turn it??

I don't press any of the foot pedals (drive an automatic), but if you're driving a stick, I think you have to press the clutch and brake at the same time and then turn the key...not real sure, as I haven't driven a stick for at least 15 years, though!!

 

[Angelhalo]

In a regular car I just put the key in the ignition and turn it.

In the Hybrid you must have your foot on the brake and the push the start button. No keys needed.

 

[golfgal]

If your car has fuel injectors you just need to turn the key. If you have a manual transmission, clutch, brake, turn key. If you don't have fuel injectors you will probably need to press the gas while starting the car.


I am not sure what you mean by putting the keys in the ignition and allowing it to boot up for a minute.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Um, I put the key in the ignition and turn it??

I don't press any of the foot pedals (drive an automatic), but if you're driving a stick, I think you have to press the clutch and brake at the same time and then turn the key...not real sure, as I haven't driven a stick for at least 15 years, though!!

Yes that is how a stick shift start can work. On my van(11years old) I sometimes have to press the gas to start but most times just turn the key. And if you have a diesel and the weather is cold, you might have to turn the key part way to let the glow plugs warm up before you can start the car(diesels don't have spark plugs, but glow plugs).

 

[eeyore25]

I have a manual diesel. I have to turn the key to the on position, wait for the "wait to start" to go away, put the clutch in and turn the key the rest of the way. I have to have the clutch in no matter what. The "wait to start" is only displayed when the temperature gets to a certain degree

 

[helenabear]

Depends on the car.

For the Civic (and most manual transmissions): key in the ignition, foot on the clutch, start car, release emergency break, leave/put into correct gear & then drive

For the Accord (and most automatics): key in the ignition, start car, foot on the break, release emergency break, put into correct gear & then drive.

 

[Piecey]

I am not sure what you mean by putting the keys in the ignition and allowing it to boot up for a minute.

Well we're not entirely sure if it's our imagination or not but our 04 Grand Am seems to start better if we put the key in the ignition, turn it a little bit from the "Off" position past the "Acc" to the "On" position, put our foot on the brake about halfway down and THEN turn the key the rest of the way to start.

when we do nothing but start it right out it makes a noise that scares us (we really don't want this car to die)--- the noise like the engine just won't "catch" I guess..

I'm horrible with car terms.

 

[rainy~daze]

when my DH starts his automatic diesel truck he has to turn the key to start, not all the way on, and lets it sit for a moment then turns it all the way on. i have to ask him why, i cannot remember the reason, but it has something to do with the diesel engine.
my automatic gas engine i just start it.
when i had my manual i would press the clutch all the way in and turn the key.
my MIL prius i learned the hard way you have to have the keys on your person, in the car somewhere, push in the brake pedal and press the start button.

 

[Paull117]

You should turn your key to the on position for a couple of seconds. Then turn it on. What happens in those couple seconds the oil pump starts working and the fuel pump. So the motor is lubricated when you actually start the car. For the most part you can just start the car right away because there should be enough oil already there to lubricate. If you look in the manual of most cars they will state that you should do this. It has been awhile since I looked in a manual, but I do remember this from a few years ago.

Paul

 

[Patch'sD]

I thought most oil pumps were mechanical and were driven by the crankshaft. I agree with the fuel pump being electrical and leaving the car in the on position . The only reason you would step on the brake on an automatic transmission is to shift the car into neutral or park to start the car.

I have had cars that you have to Jiggle the key, make sure every electrical Component was off, Start on the the third try only. In the 70's it seemed every car had a different personality. h

 

[SandraVB79]

I let out the clutch and push on the Start-button.
But then, I drive a Renault Mégane, and they have lots of "gadgets". I don't have a car key, but a card that works wireless. As long as the card is IN the car, I can push on the Start-button and it'll start!

 

[Jennasis]

In our diesel truck, we have to turn the key and wait until the alarm stops. Then we can turn the key all the way and start the vehicle (no brakes needed).

 

[JR6ooo4]

when my DH starts his automatic diesel truck he has to turn the key to start, not all the way on, and lets it sit for a moment then turns it all the way on. i have to ask him why, i cannot remember the reason, but it has something to do with the diesel engine.
my automatic gas engine i just start it.
when i had my manual i would press the clutch all the way in and turn the key.
my MIL prius i learned the hard way you have to have the keys on your person, in the car somewhere, push in the brake pedal and press the start button.

turning the key and sends an electrical current through a glow plug. This helps the engine burn the fuel when it is cold. Similar to the element in an incandescent light bulb. Once the engine is warm enough the glow plug will stay "glowing" between compression strokes.

Mikeeee

 

[ilisao]

If your car has fuel injectors you just need to turn the key. If you have a manual transmission, clutch, brake, turn key. If you don't have fuel injectors you will probably need to press the gas while starting the car.


I am not sure what you mean by putting the keys in the ignition and allowing it to boot up for a minute.

Maybe she means warm up a minute before driving?

 

[battricia]

depress clutch, turn key. i usually have my foot on the break because we live on a hill and i don't want to roll, but you don't need to do that in either of our cars to start it.

tricia.

 

[The Paint Nazi]

Perhaps you should try a bicycle or a scooter.

 

[richsilver]

I always turn key to on position and then let the fuel pump catch up before I start 'em up.You can hear it start and stop when you first turn the ignition to on position.


rich