h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I test drove a really new car today (it was a pants test drive as he made me stick to a short route but anyhoo), and it was one of those button press starts, but had to have the clutch down to start. He said it was 'safer' in case I left the car in gear. I was taught to check the car was in neutral before I started it, so that *never* happens, but occasionally if I've got in one my dad's crappy cars wiggling the gear stick doesn't tell you anything, and although most of the time I remember he *always* leaves it in gear sometimes I forget. The small lurch forward you get has never been what I'd think of as 'dangerous'. My Alto I start with clutch down because the handbreak is shagged and I can't be bothered to get it fixed so I have to leave it in gear.

So, clutch up or clutch down and why? I don't want to buy a car that insists I drive a certain way. Nor one that turns its own lights or wipers on. I'm in charge, not Herbie.

I've driven a push-button Renault for a few years, and never had any trouble once I'd learned it. You do get an 'idiot message' displayed if you try to do things in the wrong order.

Otherwise, I shouldn't think it makes a lot of difference depressing the clutch when you start it. Just put it in neutral and leave the handbrake on until you're ready to depart.

Putting down the clutch before starting the engine eases the load on the engine, because it disconnects the gearbox from the engine. It makes it a tiny bit easier for the engine to start because the starter motor doesn't have to turn the gearbox as well as the engine. I was taught to always push down the clutch while starting any car.

Clutch down. An embarrassing incident with a Lotus Equipe in my father-in-laws garage means I *never* trust a car to be in neutral.

Doesn't checking the gears sort that just as well? If it's only a tiny bit easier I can't see why they've done this. It will stop me buying the car, plus I like keys.

As a side question, what pedal do you depress to start a piano?

Even if the car is in neutral, the starter still has to turn most of the gearbox. If you depress the clutch it doesn't have to do that.

If the engine flywheel is engaging the clutch plates it takes
a lot more energy to overcome inertia. Put the clutch pedal
drown (in) to disengage the clutch plates from the flywheel.

Otherwise you are turning all that extra weight including the
primary drive gear of the gearbox. All this weight draws extra
energy from the starter motor and strains even a new and fully
charged battery. Be sure the gearbox is in neutral in case your
foot slips off a slippery pedal or there is sudden bursting of
any hydraulic clutching-assist (servo).

This is something I have always done and still do in my antique
British cars (Lucas electrics) so I don`t object to it being made
an operational necessary in more modern cars.

It`s may seem like big brother but it`s an efficiency issue.


-jwf-

I would much prefer it if people said 'don't do it'. :-p

While depressing the clutch should make starting easier, and safer, in my experience it is generally bad for reliability to have additional safety features which affect the starting of an older car, because if/when those features develop faults, you might be unable to start the car. I have a Ford Galaxy with an engine immobiliser which is faulty, so sometimes I just can't start the car. After spending £hundreds at the garage, it is still not fixed. Also, a device prevents the car going into 'drive' (again, a sensible safety idea) unless the footbrake is depressed; and that device breaks every 20,000 miles. There should be an over-ride.

It's incredibly annoying.

I did ask for a basic model so there was less to go wrong I have to admit. I really don't like the keyless starting. The keys don't even have to be in the vehicle, as long as they are near. Suppose I drop them outside the car and don't notice?? I'm always dropping things. I'll get where I'm going and then be stuck.

My brother lives in the States where there is frequently valet parking at restaurants. He has occasionally got out of his car with his key still in his pocket and gone into the restaurant. The valet drives the car away and then after about 10 yards the immobiliser kicks in.

Apparently that doesn't happen but the car can't be started again.

Friend of mine is a car salesman for BMW and he said cars have been stolen from driveways where the keys are kept in coat pockets on coat racks near the front door!

A definite no from me.

Good grief, Mina. That makes me (almost) thankful that I can't afford a new car - just yet!

Hey, what about battery life? Seems pretty god with current model.

I hold the clutch down and check all lights, heating, etc are off, too, before I start. My father taught me also to check the handbrake ist properly released (just in case) and that the top gear is properly engaged once you're cruising. But he learned to drive in the 1940's.

He taught me to double de-clutch as well. In this cold weather, I sometimes find myself thinking "mustn't forget to push the choke in now".

A similar question - I always hold the clutch down and leave the gear in at traffic lights. My mother hates that and is always telling me not to do it, as it damages the car. Does it? (I may have asked this before.)

No idea if it damages it, but tiring on your legs and unless the car is in gear or stopped in neutral with the handbrake on it's considered not under your control. I always put the handbrake on so I don't have to sit with my foot on the brake (as per the highway code) so can't see what the benefit is to sit like that to be honest.

"can't see what the benefit is to sit like that to be honest."

The benefits are several. I was offered the following advice by two police advanced driving instructors who delivered a defensive driving course to everyone in our company who had a company car or took hire cars:

Approach traffic lights and junctions slowly, braking very gently as you approach. There's no point driving right up to the queue quickly and then braking late. Braking gently and early converts as little as possible of your petrol into waste heat. It also gives the woman behind you the maximum opportunity to look away from where she's doing her lipstick and notice the brakes lights showing that you are now slowing down. Aim, if possible, to not stop at all. Don't change down through the gears as you slow. Change directly into the gear you will pull away in.

If you *must* stop, do so with your foot on the footbrake and leave it there. Statistically you are far, far less likely to suffer a rear impact at lights or at a junction if you are driving a car with an automatic gearbox. This is because if you're in an automatic, you MUST keep your foot on the brake at lights. This means you have your brake light on the whole time. Manual drivers who have applied the handbrake are no longer brightly indicating to people approaching them that they are THERE and that they have STOPPED. If, as a manual driver, communicate the same "I'VE STOPPED!" signal that automatic drivers have to, you will gain the same benefit.

If you do stop, do so at least a full car length from the car in front. Don't close the gap to just a few feet as is common. With a large gap, if you are the victim of a rear-end shunt, you are far less likely to carom into the car in front of you, vastly simplifying the insurance issues. If your foot is on the footbrake, you also have more braking power than with the handbrake. Finally, if someone attempts to gain entry to your car without your permission, you have space to lurch the car violently forward a few feet to dissuade them. I know two people who had to use this advice, one in Cairo and one in Nottingham(!).

I'll add to that: If you're waiting to turn across oncoming traffic, then do not turn your wheel in preparation for the turn. This is because if you were shunted in the back this would propel you into the path of the oncoming traffic.

In queuing traffic I go by "tyres and tarmac" - ie if I can see the rear tyres of the car in front and a bit of road, the gap's fine.

Holding the clutch down at traffic lights
does cause wear on the clutch plates but
is not a major problem unless there are a
lot of repeated stops, especially in hot
weather because a clutch operates on the
principle of friction. Sometimes repeated
clutching is unavoidable in a stop and go,
bumper to bumper rush hour traffic situation.

That's why some antique car owners will not
use their cars in parades. Parades are usually
held in warm weather with lots of stop'n'go
action and antique cars will overheat or burn
out their clutches very easily.


~jwf~