Is This True or False???

[Niblet-nut]

Hi All,

Having never owned a Seat Leon before or any diesel either just wondered one thing. When i went to test drive a few Leon TDI i was told to also put down the clutch before starting the engine. Is this true or false? My father has owned many diesels over the years all company cars i might add and never heard of this before.



Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[towcester vag]

all new vag cars you have to put clutch down to start

 

[Nath.]

Some people say it prolongs the life of the clutch and the starter motor.

They say that the clutch gets juddered whilst starting so disengaging it will lessen the juddering. Some also say that disengaging the clutch takes some load off of the starter and this prolongs the starter motor life.

Personally I think it's a load of rubbish. It's probably more to do with health and safety to stop you jumping forwards as you start the engine if the car is left in gear.



Those same people probably never turn the steering wheel whilst stationary and always press the button in when pulling up the handbrake too.

 

[Seatmann]

It's purely a safety thing because vag think you're an idiot, they've been doing it for years in other countries but we've managed to escape till recently.

 

[NickCupraR]

I also believe this is a new Vag thing over here. Engine won't start unless clutch depressed.

 

[J400uk]

Quite a lot of new cars won't start unless the clutch is depressed. Its a good habit to get into whatever your driving.

 

[Guncha]

My dad told me doing this, cause its easier to start engine spin.
On second hand its safier for manual transmision cars when left in gear.
As above "for idiots..". All automatic gearbox owners have to depress brake-clutch

 

[Crafoo]

always press the button in when pulling up the handbrake too.

I hate this sooooo much, and people who try and tell me it's the correct way to apply the handbrake and saves wear and tear

 

[AndyG_TSi]

All diesels if left in gear will not start when turned over with the key, unlike petrols that will & 'leapfrog'

 

[NickCupraR]

All diesels if left in gear will not start when turned over with the key, unlike petrols that will & 'leapfrog'

How new? My old ibiza leap frogged and I was saved by my handbrake preventing me from hitting my garage

 

[AndrewJB]

All diesels if left in gear will not start when turned over with the key, unlike petrols that will & 'leapfrog'

my Previous FR TDI would start

 

[Ben750]

I was taught by my instructor, when learning to drive, to always put my foot on the clutch when starting, it's habit now. It makes it less for the starter to spin up. It probably makes minimal difference though.

 

[G.P]

I was taught by my instructor, when learning to drive, to always put my foot on the clutch when starting, it's habit now. It makes it less for the starter to spin up. It probably makes minimal difference though.

Used to have to in winter months to get the things to start before the battery became dead..

 

[KDV]

I do this by habit because I drive tractors which need the clutch depressed to start, was also told by my instructor when learning to do it.

 

[bondbill2k2]

Always done this from habbit and some cars require it to start, only car I've drove that did was a 12 plate Cooper Diesel

 

[kazand]

All diesels if left in gear will not start when turned over with the key, unlike petrols that will & 'leapfrog'

Current Passat (2012) clutch pedal fully depressed to start, diesel.

 

[Seatmann]

All diesels if left in gear will not start when turned over with the key, unlike petrols that will & 'leapfrog'

Only new ones, none of the older generation were like that and that includes 2006 at least. They tend to have a second clutch switch just for that, it was on the floor in the states in their earlier tdi's but not ours.

 

[Jarre]

My 2011 FR diesel doesn't require the clutch to be depressed to start the engine. I usually do depress it though (old car required it, driving instructor taught me that way)

I also push in the button on the handbrake while pulling it up. I hate the clicking noise now when someone pulls it without pushing the button in!

 

[Seatmann]

Well f**k me, it looks like this is a right old mixed bag of bollox, maybe vag just did it to some cars to cause confusion in the forums, it's a conspiracy I tell you!

 

[porksword28]

My dads got a diesel tiguan with electric handbrake and it won't let you start it without the clutch pedal depressed.