Starting Problem?

[Darkii_]

Hey guys,

Was wondering if this was something wrong with my euro. Well i just hit 1k yesterday, and last night i was parked on a hill and i tried to start the car but the key wouldn't turn. clutch / brakes pushed him, but when i took my foot off the brake i realised that it was kinda stuck and really hard to push. dropped the handbrake and let the car roll back a bit, pushed the brakes again, it was still hard. then really forced the brake pedal in and turned the wheel then the car turned on.

I drove all the way home and everything seemed fine, brakes worked etc. Was wondering if i did something wrong, is there a chance that theres something wrong with my car that i can mention when i get it serviced.

Thanks in advance guys

[Riviera]

soundz to me, u had steering lock on??

if u dunno what that is

it is where the steering wheel has been turn while the key has been out of the ignition causing it to lock in a certain direction. to unlock it u turn the wheel in the direction its locked at then turn the key.

try it in your driveway, dont worry most cars have this


also the brake pedal would have become harder to press because the engine wasnt started, need to have the engine started to
operate the solenoid in the brake booster

hope im correct with my information dont wasna look like an idiot lol

so correct me if im wrong other OH users

[LXRY]

I know if you don't push the brake pedal on the auto, key won't turn some sort of safety feature, not sure with the manual............should be the same. I've had no problems like what you experienced. Brakes might of locked on you, probably because it's still almost brand new, shouldn't happen really. Maybe someone else has had this issue

keep us informed with what the dealership has too say about it and if it happens again ;)

[Darkii_]

yeah, i push the brakes in when i start the car too. Mmm yeah i'll ask them about it when i take it for a service.

[omgzilla]

I've seen the same problem on some cars at work... Usually Vacuum/Brake Booster related.

But then again, this issue is usually concerned with a 'pod' type key-in-holster (key in card-reader) type setup. Not your normal turn key style ignition barrel.

I'd be saying that its just the normal steering lock. You may have bumped the steering wheel with your knees once you pulled the key out of the barrel and not realised that you engaged the steering lock.

Obviously it's still got warranty so i'd be taking it back to your dealer if it's locking stiffer than normal.

[tony1234]

Sounds like the lock on the steering.If it happens again just turn the steering wheel left to right and turn the key at the same time and you'll be right.

[akina]

this is totally the steering lock... dont bring it up at ur service, their just think ur an idoit.

[neborama]

I had a similar issue when i was leaving work last week my euro didn't start until the 3rd time i turned the key to "start" position.

Normally I hold it in "start" for about 0.800 - 1.000 second but just didn't turn over! I've only just hit 4000kms as well wondering if anyone else is experiencing this?

[r-r-redEuro]

steering lock, hold break and turn the steering wheel side to side as you turn your key, you need to put pressure on the brakes as well.

[akina]

i dont think the brakes r needed

when i have my steering locks, all i need to do is turn my steering wheel to the right about 1 inch and turn key... starts...

[badthing]

There's no need to push the brakes before starting the engine. If you're on a hill, the handbrake should be enough to prevent rollback. The brake pedal is connected to the master cylinder via the brake booster. The function of the brake booster is to 'boost' the pedal force being applied to the master cylinder.

I think the reason the brakes get progressively harder to push is because the engine is off and not supplying constant vacuum to the brake booster. Try it in any car with the engine off. After a few pumps, it will be next to impossible to push the pedal. Start the engine and the pedal goes back to normal. I believe there's nothing wrong with your brake pedal. Only need to use the clutch when starting the car.

[aaronng]

Only need to use the clutch when starting the car.

On my Euro, I don't need to press the clutch in to start the car.......

[badthing]

On my Euro, I don't need to press the clutch in to start the car.......

Really? I've always had the habit of using clutch to start cars.

[aaronng]

Really? I've always had the habit of using clutch to start cars.

Give it a try to see if it works on your car. Mine's an 04. The last 07 Echo I rented needed to have the clutch pressed to start the car. But the 03 Corolla didn't need to have the clutch down. So maybe they have started to require the clutch to be held down to start.

[tron07]

why would you need to clutch to start cars? I heard the newer Evos you need to do that... due to race clutch?

Anyway, I think the problem is jsut steering locked, and probably turn the key too early, before all the diagnostic being completed, it wouldnt start.

The brake are stiff cause the pump/booster is not running/engine off.

[aaronng]

why would you need to clutch to start cars? I heard the newer Evos you need to do that... due to race clutch?


It's a safety feature. All cars sold in the US (and probably Europe as well) need to have this feature. Sometimes they just apply it to cars sold outside of US as well because it will cost more money and time to turn this feature off depending on market.

[tron07]

icic.... So you dont start it in gear....

I always thought its some technical issues, cause a friend of mine try to start a Evo8, and couldnt start it... then the owner came and laugh at him