Starting your Car

AWD Chaser · 03-12-2006, 07:09 PM

Hey guys.... just wondering... does it really matter if you start your car with the headlights on or the aircon on? Just wondering, cause my old man taught me to not have them on, so as not to cause strain on the starter motor... is this for real?

Steffo · 03-12-2006, 07:13 PM

I never start it with anything. Bad or not, I just don't like to. EVERYTHING gets turned off before the car is turned off, I'm very picky about that.

Bill_R · 03-12-2006, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steffo

I never start it with anything. Bad or not, I just don't like to. EVERYTHING gets turned off before the car is turned off, I'm very picky about that.

ditto but I don't think it matters much.

DODDO · 03-12-2006, 07:25 PM

I have everything off. It puts a little extra load on the battery at the time that it starts if you have things on. Ive always done it.
Each to their own!

**GasoLane** · 03-12-2006, 07:29 PM

I dont know about the extra strain on the starter but I was taught not to start a truck with anything on. Parking lights (on a truck) put a strain on the battery, then you hit the starter.. more strain = equals shorter battery life.

I just carried that through to starting cars.

Hawk · 03-12-2006, 07:29 PM

I have heard it isn't good for the headlights if you start the car with them on, ie. it surges a bit possibly causing them to blow if done too much....but I think that may be an old wives tale.

Regardless I don't start it with anything on.

MRJUCY · 03-12-2006, 07:50 PM

With old cars I used to have everything off but I don't really worry about it these days with a late model car.

dazAUSR · 03-12-2006, 08:06 PM

I'm like Steffo, check things are all off when I start up... especially in the mornings. I have been told it is no good to have the airconditioning on, you should turn it off at the switch when stopped.. Sometimes in the mornings it's a good idea to switch off the cd player to keep the neighbours happy....before turning over my ef.

pauljh74 · 03-12-2006, 09:00 PM

When the battery is a bit used at least, you can notice the car is harder to start with A/C and/or headlights on, so the logical thing to do is make it as easy as reasonably possible to get the car started, so your chances of starting it are maximised.

poolkeeper · 03-12-2006, 09:04 PM

Just the stereo system is on when I start mine...

AUXRVIII · 03-12-2006, 09:08 PM

Almost everything is cut out while cranking anyway so it really doesn't matter too much what is on.

GXL078 · 03-12-2006, 09:38 PM

Ford owner's manual tells you not to start the car with the air-con on.

bEAn86 · 03-12-2006, 10:01 PM

if you have a half modern car it should not matter what you do!

xdclevo · 03-12-2006, 10:41 PM

Headlights only for me, as this is the only thing thing that really needs to be turned off when parking, for ovious reasons. The rest is fine and makes no difference at all.
Lights dont really make much difference either, but only a knob would manually switch them on before starting their car, because there is no advantage in doing so.

[Tonko] · 03-12-2006, 11:03 PM

i have to turn many switches to turn on my car, 2 immobilisers hooked up to the switches that run things on the car, and press the starter button...

AUIII XR8 MAN · 03-12-2006, 11:11 PM

I guess it what i've been tort & something i do with really thinking about but i have every thing turn off before stating the car.

Yellow_Festiva · 03-12-2006, 11:22 PM

I make sure that everything is off before i start the car, and turn everything off b4 i turn off the engine.

I also start the car as soon as i open the door in the mornings when its cold from the night, that way by the time i pop the boot to put my bag in, get in and buckle up its been running for 20 seconds b4 i drive off. Sort of like warming it up, but without sitting there and waiting for it...

You Yangs · 04-12-2006, 07:04 AM

Never with the air con on
Trying to spin the compressor with your starter motor is not a good idea, just think of the power its saps from your motor when driving so trying to spin it with your starter is just silly.

AWD Chaser · 04-12-2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Yangs

Never with the air con on
Trying to spin the compressor with your starter motor is not a good idea, just think of the power its saps from your motor when driving so trying to spin it with your starter is just silly.

And the a/c clutch kicking in as soon as you crank it over....

**Mechan1k** · 04-12-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk

I have heard it isn't good for the headlights if you start the car with them on, ie. it surges a bit possibly causing them to blow if done too much....but I think that may be an old wives tale.

Regardless I don't start it with anything on.

This is true ... have done a few headlight globes in the Territory ... doesn't blow them as much now with them turned off.

MITCHAY · 04-12-2006, 10:10 AM

I turn everything off before I get out of the car, so I don't have to worry about it when I go to start it again.

EA2BA · 04-12-2006, 01:02 PM

I only make sure everything is turned off so if my battery is a bit flat for what ever reason it gives the maximum possible chance of the car starting, sometimes you get 1 shot to start car and then you are stuffed and stranded, and thats not fun.

Auslandau · 04-12-2006, 01:11 PM

Lights on my BA are on permantly so doesnt matter. Always have everything on, inc a/c. Doesnt make a difference. If you have lights that are on permantly, when you turn the key they go off anyway and then back on when running, including radio etc. A/C doesnt come on until about 20 seconds of eninge running, including the fans if they also happen to be on.

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**Mechan1k** · 04-12-2006, 01:18 PM

I like the headlights off/on feature on the Territory as well ... especially when you get out and arm the vehicle and they turn off ... but when starting the surge through the lighting system has killed my globes ... not fun replacing the driver's side H4 globe.

So I just turn them off before I turn the car off ... I'm trying not to be lazy

castek · 04-12-2006, 04:11 PM

wow, my battery wont be living long then lol. air con stays on, stereo stays on (and loud). maybe thats why i'm getting flat batterys if i dont start the car for a week.

smciner1 · 04-12-2006, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auslandau

A/C doesnt come on until about 20 seconds of eninge running, including the fans if they also happen to be on.

That answers that question.

Juiceman · 04-12-2006, 04:48 PM

I start it with nothing on...otherwise there is too much drain on the battery and it goes flat, I should really get a new battery, it's about 3 and a half years old haha

andrewts · 04-12-2006, 05:34 PM

I just pop the key in and turn, and whatever's on is on.

However, with our old ED Shitter, the alternator belt slips, so you have to revv the engine a bit until it catches, so usually most things are turned off in that car until such time as volts are up to 14V.

vztrt · 04-12-2006, 05:44 PM

Never really check, but when the battery starts to get on a bit you'll begin to notice the extra drain you put on it.

formerly · 04-12-2006, 09:34 PM

i prefer to start mine with something on... normally atleast pants!!

other than that, everything is turned off, which is how i leave it...

View Poll Results: How do you start your car?
It doesn't matter whats on	123	39.30%
Never with aircon	6	1.92%
Never with headlights	26	8.31%
Never with anything....	158	50.48%
Voters: 313. You may not vote on this poll