I have spent Saturday zooming about the countryside in my Citigo. Despite the lowish power it drives very well. The only thing I am not so found of is the starting. You seem to have to turn the key, the press the clutch then turn the key again to get it to start.

That sounds strange. I always press the clutch when starting a car, so haven't tried doing it without, but I'll give it a go.

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This has just jogged something in my memory. When I went for a test drive, the salesman said "Don't forget, hold the clutch down when you start the engine". I thought nothing of it, as I always do anyway.

 

But I've just been outside and checked, and with the gearbox in neutral the engine starts if you don't press the clutch. I don't know what happens if it's in gear when you try to start it. I'll leave somebody else to do that particular experiment. :think:

Stop start engine models require the clutch to be pressed before they will start. Just put your foot on the pedal before you turn the key.

Stop start engine models require the clutch to be pressed before they will start. Just put your foot on the pedal before you turn the key.

Tried that it does not work. I push the clutch in, turn the key, nothing. Release the key and clutch, repeat and it starts.

Definitely sounds like something is not right there -I'd head back to the dealership to get it looked at.

Yeah, get that checked out by the dealer, as others have said it SHOULD start with the clutch depressed.

Clutch down and turn key, like above sounds like there is an issue there.

Well that's what I do-put the key in,turn it to position 2 the dashboard lights up radio switchs on etc,press clutch in turn key to position 3 and the engine fires up.

Fiat 500 stop start was the dame procedure; clutch in turn key.

All stop starts require this.

Also read that this is something being phased in for safety reasons, to avoid starting in gear.

Seriously if you can't work it out should you really be driving? Lol

Sounds like you have a fault.

The first thing my left foot does when I get in any manual is press the clutch (having checked handbrake is on) then turn key though the stages to start engine.

Always pressed the clutch irrespective of in gear or not, it is something I've done since my test back in 1982, so glad they have introduced it as a "safety feature" stops idiots/silly people getting in cars and bashing into your car (in gear)in a car park, as I have had more than once happen to me, they forgot it was in gear??.

I Never press the clutch on start-up, always check it's in neutral then crank it... I only do it on the bike because it won't crank until the clutch is pulled in.

 

I was told many years ago, by an old mechanic that it was no good for the thrust bearing on the crankshaft... I guess that they have improved the bearing materials to make this a feature.

Hmm all very strange.

I was taught to depress the clutch, 1 to avoid flattening people if it was left in gear 2. Disengaging the clutch means you are not turning over the gearbox as well, less drag on starter motor.

Bmw's have had this feature for years

Had three Skodas and one Nissan all with this feature -the Nissan didn't have stop start (no one had thought of it back then -2004) but it did have keyless.

Seriously if you can't work it out should you really be driving? Lol

 

Oooooh!  I'm eagerly awaiting CitigoAli's response to that!!

Im sure she will take it light heartedly, in the manner in which it was intended

Damo

Maybe she just got the procedure wrong. I have a couple of times and thought the thing had developed a fault. Just take the key out and start again, nothing wrong with my car, love it.

Hi,

I have got it sorted.  Seems you must turn the key until the dash lights up, then put the clutch in and turn the key the rest of the way.

Im sure she will take it light heartedly, in the manner in which it was intended

Damo

 

I'm sure she will too!

Hi,

I have got it sorted. Seems you must turn the key until the dash lights up, then put the clutch in and turn the key the rest of the way.

Or just put the clutch down and turn the key all the way. Should work as well :-)

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Or just put the clutch down and turn the key all the way. Should work as well :-)

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No that does not work.  If you press the clutch then turn the key nothing happnes other than the dash coming to life.  After experimenting I discovered that the key has to be turne dto the first position before the clutch is pressed, or the car does not start and you get a message about a safety lock on the trip display.  I have to say that this is all needlessly complicated.  I was taught that pressing the clutch befor starting was bad practice, and wears the clutch.  In the husbands Scenic it is the brake you have to press before it will strat,and that seems to make much more sense to me.

Well I have just got in our 75PS Greentech and pressed the clutch down without the key in the ignition. Safe Lock cleared from the LCD display and just showed tie and mileage. I then put the key in the ignition and went straight to position two, the dash lit up and then she started straight away. Tried putting the key in the ignition and going to position 1 or 2 then pressed the clutch and starting from that. She started OK from both positions.

Every car I start the clutch pedal is depressed first. Always have done, it's got to be a habit, my old mans tip when he taught me to drive back in the 70's. Whether it prevents premature wear to the starter or ring gear nowadays is debatable but seems for a different reason on these cars and others these days.

The dealer told me, clutch pedal depressed first before turning the key to start on the Citigo.

No that does not work. If you press the clutch then turn the key nothing happnes other than the dash coming to life. After experimenting I discovered that the key has to be turne dto the first position before the clutch is pressed, or the car does not start and you get a message about a safety lock on the trip display. I have to say that this is all needlessly complicated. I was taught that pressing the clutch befor starting was bad practice, and wears the clutch. In the husbands Scenic it is the brake you have to press before it will strat,and that seems to make much more sense to me.

That's really strange. I always do the following : press clutch, turn key to first position (indicators turn on) an then turn key to second position to start car. Works every time. This is what I do in any car I drive, so I never gave it much thought.

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