while starting, Clutch in or out?

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while starting, Clutch in or out?

Postby barryogen » Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:55 am

I've always started my car with clutch pedal pressed to the floor, but recently I read something that said it may make it wear faster, or damage it, or something, general gist was it was a bad idea.

I have no clue about it, so, in or out?
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Postby xsspeed » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:14 am

Doesn't depend on the car? I always start with it out in N, unless its some older car that won't start without it in
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Postby Rob_GTZ » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:18 am

I've always started cars with clutch in & car in neutral. Can't be too bad for them, the manual Toyota Vitz & Echo models will not allow you to start the car without the clutch engaged
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Postby Stealer Of Souls » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:29 am

What was their reasoning for wear? I guess if your clutch wasn't adjusted properly it might increase wear by a significant amount... But I would suspect that people would spend far more time at the lights with the clutch depressed...

350Z's also need the clutch depressed to start.

Personally I always start in neutral with clutch depressed. Mostly just in case of that one in a million bad luck situation.
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Postby KwS » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:51 am

ive kept hearing something about if you start with the clutch in you can get crankwalk or crank float or something. dunno how true it is.... but when i thought about it, it sort of made some sense, but not a whole lot.

i still start with foot off clutch, but always check its in neutral.
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Postby Py7h0n » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:20 am

Holding the clutch pedal while starting is VERY bad.

Your thin tiny little Thrust washers which stop the crank from moving forwards and backwards have no oil pressure on them when cold starting.

So when you have pressure on the thrust washers by holding your clutch pedal while starting you are really stressing these 'bearings'. This eventually causes what is called crank walk - When these bearings give out and your crank is not supported. Bin block, Bin crank.

In the US it is a VERY common engine problem because they have switches on their clutches so that the car cannot be started without the pedal pushed in.
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Postby Py7h0n » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:21 am

Oh and the stronger the pressure plate - The worse the damage.

Couple of pics from the US.

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Postby KwS » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:33 am

huh... so i wasnt talking out my arse.... :lol:
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Postby method » Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:57 am

Ive heard the same thing too.

With standard cars it should be OK

But if you have heavy pressure plate to not do it.
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Postby barryogen » Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:59 am

previous people wrote:tiny little Thrust washers ... no oil pressure ... cold starting ... stronger the pressure plate the worse


yeah, that was what it was I was reading... really must pay more attention and give a bit more info with my questions.

There goes my morning start procedure I've used for the last 13 years. sit, check in neutral, clutch, start.
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Postby Dell'Orto » Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:00 pm

Why would you put the clutch in if you're in neutral? :?
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Postby BigDon » Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:19 pm

My Evo 9 has to have the clutch in to start dont know if thats factory or an ad on with the alarm. Hope it lasts with a heavy duty clutch.
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Postby l1ttle_d3vil » Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:49 pm

assuming the engine is in good condition to begin with, how long would it last before everything turns to crap? obviously it would vary but 1 year or more like 10?
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Postby Warren » Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:52 pm

Can't start my car without holding the clutch in :(
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Postby CAMB01 » Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:37 pm

4G63 turbo engines are VERY VERY common for thrust failure and crank walk.
Mainly due to the later model evos having pull clutches, and starting with foot on clutch.
Seen four evo 4 engines at work with the same problem, bin the crank and the block. Once it chews through the bearings it eats into the block
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Postby xsspeed » Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:50 pm

So for these cars that need the clutch in to start.
If it is a bad thing, why do they have it? (is it a safety thing incase the gbox is in gear?)

How does the mechanism work? (small "push to make" switch or something?)
Assuming that would removing the switch and rewiring allow you to start with clutch out in N?
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Postby CAMB01 » Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:52 pm

Is a micro switch on the clutch pedal, similar how you would have a switch for a launch controller.
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Postby Nuty|Mike » Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:20 pm

xsspeed wrote:So for these cars that need the clutch in to start.
If it is a bad thing, why do they have it? (is it a safety thing incase the gbox is in gear?)


Mine wont start wthout clutch in either Surely Mr Toyota wouldnt make it that way if it was gonna damage shit in the future.
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Postby Jdawg » Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:25 pm

Check to see if your fancy race/road warrior has preoiling, if it does you don't need to worry, or maybe install a pre oil system, they are good thing.
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Postby AE82 FXGT » Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:29 pm

CAMB01 wrote:4G63 turbo engines are VERY VERY common for thrust failure and crank walk.
Mainly due to the later model evos having pull clutches, and starting with foot on clutch.
Seen four evo 4 engines at work with the same problem, bin the crank and the block. Once it chews through the bearings it eats into the block


Evo 4's are the worst for that aswell.
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