When you're starting a car is it best to start a car then turn all the gizmos like heaters etc to avoid too much engine stress?

On the 'dead' car, you want everything OFF, and on the 'live' car, you want everything ON. AIUI, it's nothing to do with engine stress but rather raising the idle speed of the live car to increase the power output of the live car's alternator. Could be wrong, though...

When i switch my cars engine off I then turn the heating and things off.

But my friend starts his car with the climate and stuff switched on in his car.

I was under the impression that since everything is powered from the cars engine that having it all switched on would increase engine stress on the belts and starter motor.

Isn't everything drawing from the battery until the engine is running (and the alternator being driven)? Not a problem with a healthy battery, but with one that's on its way out you want to turn everything off when starting. My climate, radio, etc all comes on when I start the car but I'll put the lights on once the engine's running.

Chris

It's good practice to turn off, but most cars will power off the X contact relay (so everything that only works with the ignition on) when cranking so it's not a biggy.

I'd turn everything off bar the radio head when parking, not so much becuase of drain during cranking (as cjb, the X contact turns off everything not permanent live except the starter during cranking anyway), as to avoid drain before I start cranking. It's got a very marginal battery to get the car started to go and get the new battery a couple of times.

Everything left on here. I do however always start with the clutch depressed, which takes a chunk of the load of the engine.

Never really thought about powering down all the equipment, after all I'm not a airplane pilot.

The best way I'm lead to understand, is to dip the clutch and break pedal on starting the engine.

I always start the car with the clutch pedal pressed down, a few times I've done that and seen the car is in fact in gear so it's a good habit if you ask me.

As for the electrical stuff - I never turn anything off, a healthy battery is more than capable of handling it, especially on a derv.

It would be a different matter if the battery was getting flat then everything would be turned off to divert as much power as possible to the starter motor meaning better odds of getting the engine running.

I never start my car with the clutch down unless i've stalled at a junction and really need to get going quickly.

ATM my starting technique is - neutral, start car, start heaters and de-ice (with a scraper) before driving.

And then turn everything afterwards.

I'm sure modern batteries are more than capable of handling the load but I'm set in my ways.

It's all down to the way you were taught to drive, I was always taught 'clutch down' on startup and it's stuck ever since.

It's all down to the way you were taught to drive, I was always taught 'clutch down' on startup and it's stuck ever since.

Same here, do you park leaving the car in gear as well ?

Same here, do you park leaving the car in gear as well ?

To be honest not always but if on any kind of incline i'll stick it in gear and turn the wheels in the appropriate direction so the car will roll to the kerb in the event of the handbrake failing.

There is also the occasion where the gear lever is knocked into gear when cleaning the interior etc etc.

I always stick the car in second gear when I leave it.

Isn't everything drawing from the battery until the engine is running (and the alternator being driven)? Not a problem with a healthy battery, but with one that's on its way out you want to turn everything off when starting. My climate, radio, etc all comes on when I start the car but I'll put the lights on once the engine's running.

Chris

:eek: Thats not in the starting drill I know!

:P

key in seatbelt on turn key,drive slowley until temp builds then drive proper:D

key in seatbelt on turn key,drive slowley until temp builds then drive proper:D

Thats my routine also