How to Start a Car

Starting a car for the first time can be challenging, especially when you’re just learning to drive. Fortunately, the process of starting the car is designed to be quite simple, whether your car has an automatic or manual transmission. This article will show you how to start the car in both cases – see Step 1 below to get started.

Table of Contents

Start the car

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Sit in the driver’s seat and buckle your seat belt. Do not drive without a seat belt as it is both dangerous and illegal! ^{[1] X Trusted Source National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Go to source}

Insert the key into the switch. The switch is usually located near the steering wheel. It looks like a round piece of metal with a key hole in the middle, usually with writing on it. Once you find the switch, insert the key all the way in. ^{[2] X Research Source}

For most vehicles, you will need the correct key that came with the vehicle. You can also use a spare key, provided it is the same as the primary key.
Some newer vehicles may not have keys. You need to find the start button for this vehicle; This button is usually marked with the word “start” and is located in a conspicuous position. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If you start the car with an automatic transmission, place the gear lever in the “P” or “N” position. An automatic transmission means you don’t have to change gears yourself, instead the transmission will change on its own. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If the car uses an automatic transmission, there are only two pedals. With some automatic transmissions, there is a flat rubber plate located to the far left of the driver’s footrest; this is a “dead pedal” meaning a place to put your feet and not a real pedal.
Automatic transmission vehicles have a safety switch that prevents the vehicle from starting while in gear, unless the shift lever is set to “P” or “N” (“Park” or “Neutral”).

If you start a manual transmission, put the gear lever in position N.

If the car has a manual transmission, there will be three pedals; the one on the left side is the clutch pedal.
It’s important to make sure the vehicle is in N – meaning the engine is free – before starting. If you start the car while the car is “in gear”, the engine will transmit power through the transmission and then to the wheels, causing the vehicle to wobble and then stop. The transmission can be damaged if the vehicle is started while the gear is engaged.
You can tell if a manual car is in N gear by gently shaking the gear lever; if it’s moving freely, the car is in N. If the shifter feels stiff, the car is in gear. While pressing the clutch pedal, move the shift lever to N before starting the vehicle.

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Use the key to start the car. You will have to turn the key through two stops and press at the third and final position to start the car. Use only one hand when inserting and turning the key, and make sure that you do not remove the key while turning.

Release the key immediately after turning it to the start position. If you continue to turn the key after you have reached the final position and the engine is running, you will hear an annoying grinding noise coming from the transmission in the starter. Of course this is bad for the car.
The first two steps are designated ‘ACC’ which means ‘accessories’ and the second ‘ON’. The first position activates radios and other electrical devices; the ‘ON’ position is the position where the key will turn back on after pressing the switch.

If the engine is not running then follow these tips in turn. Sometimes, after turning the key to the switch position, a perfectly normal vehicle may still not start. Don’t worry, the problem is not serious!

If the key cannot go through the first or second step and the steering wheel cannot move, the steering wheel is locked. The steering wheel lock is a safety device designed to ensure that the vehicle does not start when no one is present. With these cars you probably have to ‘shake’ the steering wheel a bit to get the key to turn. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
If the car won’t start, try pressing hard on the brake and/or clutch pedal while turning the key. This is a feature available on some newer vehicles with the purpose of preventing the vehicle from moving unexpectedly when the engine is started.
If the car still won’t start, turn the key in the opposite direction. Some older vehicles may not perform as well as modern vehicles.

Be careful when entering numbers. Some (but not all) manual cars are equipped with a clutch safety switch that cuts off current to the starter, unless you depress the clutch pedal all the way; This means you have to press the clutch pedal to get the car to start.

When the engine is running, “do not” suddenly release the clutch while the engine is engaged and do not press the accelerator pedal; inevitably the car will jerk and the engine will mostly shut off, causing the car to come to a sudden stop. You can prevent this by making sure the car is not in gear before starting (use the shift lever method above).

Check mirrors to avoid hitting other people, objects or vehicles, and start driving safely. Remember to obey traffic rules and drive safely.

Troubleshooting when the car cannot start

You should know cars may not start for a number of reasons. Refer to the owner’s manual and take the vehicle to a repair shop if possible. If you really need to go somewhere or can’t get to the repair shop, you can handle the problem yourself.

Learn how to start your car in icy weather. If the car won’t start and it’s very cold, you may have to “pump” or add more fuel to the engine to make it easier to start. Whether or not more fuel is needed depends on whether your car has a small fuel tank or electronic fuel injection. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If manufactured before 1990, the car uses a small fuel tank. The fuel tank is a mechanical device that mixes air and fuel before it is fed to the engine. For this type of car, you “pump” a few times by pressing the gas pedal before starting. Pumping the gas will cause the fuel tank to release some fuel into the engine. Each time you press the gas pedal of a car with a small fuel tank, more fuel will be fed into the engine.
Be careful when the fuel pump is on a completely cold vehicle. Pumping too much gas before starting can “spill” the engine. Supplying too much fuel and too little air will cause the fuel to burn poorly. (See tips on how to start an engine that has spilled fuel.)
If the engine has overflowed, press the accelerator pedal all the way down to get the engine started. When the accelerator pedal is fully pressed, more air will be supplied to the engine to burn all the fuel. You may have to press the accelerator longer than usual to get the engine to start. When the engine is running, release the accelerator.

If the car engine cannot run, you should replace the battery or use another car to start it outside. By this time, a dead battery is usually the cause of the engine not running. To start the car, you need to use another vehicle to power your car’s battery. If you do not use this method, you must replace the dead battery. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If your car rattles but won’t start, consider replacing the alternator. You or your mechanic can do a little check to see if the alternator needs to be replaced. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If the battery and alternator are both good but the car won’t start, consider replacing the starter. You or your mechanic can do this. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Advice

For manual transmission vehicles, to prevent the vehicle from rolling, pull the handbrake before pressing the clutch pedal.
For vehicles with push-button start, you must press that button after you have completed the necessary steps.
For diesel vehicles, you should warm up the spark plugs (GM, Ford) or the dryer (Dodge) first. This information is usually indicated by a light on the dashboard, which turns off after a few seconds when the engine is warm. See related articles for more information.
Some vehicles (eg Renault) have an anti-theft lock, which has a lock/unlock button on it and you need to press it before you start the car.
Learn about the vehicle before using it. You will save time and effort knowing exactly where to put your keys.
After starting the car, before starting to run, you should check to make sure there are no pets such as dogs and cats standing under the car.
Make sure to use the correct key. Many modern vehicles have anti-theft systems that prevent the vehicle from starting if you use the wrong key. If the car key has a “chip” near the base or integrated in the key, even an identical key will not be able to start the car. It can unlock the switch, but turning the key will not start the car.

Warning

With manual transmission cars, be careful because the car will suddenly move when you press the clutch pedal. If the vehicle is in gear when the engine is started, the vehicle will shift forward (or backward if in reverse) while the engine is running. This could damage furniture or injure people standing in front or behind the vehicle. Practice more with this vehicle and understand how the transmission works before driving, to avoid causing an accident or hurting others.
Cars and other vehicles are not toys. In the hands of someone who has not learned to drive or is unfit to drive, a vehicle can cause serious injury or death. Do not attempt to start the vehicle if you are not yet qualified to drive. If you’re driving for the first time, it’s a good idea to have an instructor by your side!
If the car can’t start, don’t just press the accelerator pedal continuously. Don’t step on the accelerator for longer than 60 seconds in five minutes. The starter needs cooling time between uses. If you do not follow this principle, the starter may burn out, which is basically a small electric motor that is responsible for providing the initial force to start the engine. If this happens, the only way out is to replace the starter. If the engine won’t run after 60 seconds of trying to start, there’s probably something wrong with your car and needs to be taken to a mechanic.

Steps

Start the car

Troubleshooting when the car cannot start

Advice

Warning

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