Clutch pedal when starting car

Joe_Horner · 4 March 2012 at 9:05PM

A lot of new cars are starting to do this for safety.

From the car's point of view, it's not a particularly good thing. It's true that it slightly reduces starter load, which used to matter with old starters, 6V batteries and gearbox oil like treacle, but with modern starters, 12V systems and much thinner oils it's not really a benefit - if our starter won't handle the extra load then there's a problem with it!

On the other hand, pressing the clutch puts a BIG thrust load on the crank-shaft. Basically, the clutch is trying to push the crankshaft out of the other end of the engine. What stops the crank moving is the thrust bearings, which are basically soft metal plates that it pushes against. Once the engine is running they're lubricated by oil being squirted between them and the crank but, at start-up, it's metal-to-metal contact.

So, putting a load on them at start-up may reduce wear on the starter very slightly, but it will also increase wear on the crank thrusts. Personally I'd rather end up replacing a starter than stripping an engine!

atrixblue.-MFR-. · 4 March 2012 at 9:08PM

!!!!!! wrote: »

I had an Opel Astra on hire in Spain last week and you had to depress the clutch to start.
My Megane requires a foot on the brake.

megane have clutch deprssion to start or brake pedal. if it wont start off the clutch the wires in the sensor have either snapped or the sensor itself is broken.

Ich_2 · 4 March 2012 at 9:10PM

Vauxhall/Opels with electrical handbrakes require the clutch pedal to be pressed before they start. Trouble is that if you press the acceleratotr at the same time the handbrake releases!

thefishdude · 4 March 2012 at 9:11PM

i allways press clucth but thats because i allways park and leave my car in gear, i was taught that way and my dad also does park in gear so them together and its ingrained in my soul. the only vechile i dont is the works 7.5tonne truck cause it wont start in gear it lock out the ignition even with clutch down.

System · 4 March 2012 at 9:30PM

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

megane have clutch deprssion to start or brake pedal. if it wont start off the clutch the wires in the sensor have either snapped or the sensor itself is broken.

Strange response! Both vehicles are starting as designed, either clutch or brake subject to vehicle. There are no faults with either.
Both vehicles tell you what needs to be pressed.

chib · 4 March 2012 at 9:35PM

I was taught by my instructor to depress the clutch before starting and always have done.

My last car (Toyota Auris) required the clutch to be depressed and my current car (VW Passat) does the same - it also needs the doors closed and seatbelts clicked in before the electronic handbrake will release automatically.

MoneySavingUser · 4 March 2012 at 9:53PM

chib wrote: »

I was taught by my instructor to depress the clutch before starting and always have done.

My last car (Toyota Auris) required the clutch to be depressed and my current car (VW Passat) does the same - it also needs the doors closed and seatbelts clicked in before the electronic handbrake will release automatically.

My Toyota Auris also (unsurprisingly!) needs the clutch to be pressed down

Tigsteroonie · 4 March 2012 at 9:55PM

I used to occasionally drive a company Freelander, that needed the clutch pedal depressed before the engine would start.

vikingaero · 4 March 2012 at 10:10PM

Most manual cars with starter buttons require clutch down before they will start.

OddjobKIA · 4 March 2012 at 10:36PM

i always push the clutch pedal down when starting the car mainly out of habbit after almost 20 years habbits are hard to break....same as going down the box

Clutch pedal when starting car

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