Start Engine without a Key!

[Sean L]

Very true, my mom had to call me to put mine into drive

Exactly, My sister-in-law recently got an X3 M sport and she tossed me the keys and said, "go take it for a spin."

I study this thing for a solid minute, tried to put it in reverse and the computer screens started flashing with what I screwed up on, and it stopped just short of calling me a noob...

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[TA1ton]

You beat me to it. Try the same thing in an older car, dont put it in Park and turn the key off, it doesnt let you leave the ACC position, meaning you didnt shut the vehicle off. Your friend just went from ACC to ON, not from OFF to ON.

If I had to guess, I’d say this is true cause here is an excerpt from the manual on page 319-320:

Ignition Park Interlock

This vehicle is equipped with an Ignition Park Interlock which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the ignition can be turned to the OFF mode. This helps the driver avoid inadvertently leaving the vehicle without placing the transmission in PARK. This system also locks the transmission in PARK whenever the ignition is in the OFF mode.

NOTE: The transmission is NOT locked in PARK when the ignition is in the ACC mode (even though the engine will be off). Ensure that the transmission is in PARK, and the ignition is OFF (not in ACC mode) before exiting the vehicle.



But seriously...why not just put it in park?

 

[Hellow0rld]

If I had to guess, I’d say this is true cause here is an excerpt from the manual on page 319-320:

Ignition Park Interlock

This vehicle is equipped with an Ignition Park Interlock which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the ignition can be turned to the OFF mode. This helps the driver avoid inadvertently leaving the vehicle without placing the transmission in PARK. This system also locks the transmission in PARK whenever the ignition is in the OFF mode.

NOTE: The transmission is NOT locked in PARK when the ignition is in the ACC mode (even though the engine will be off). Ensure that the transmission is in PARK, and the ignition is OFF (not in ACC mode) before exiting the vehicle.



But seriously...why not just put it in park?

Thanks for the in depth info! Putting it in park is definitely the way to go. Just trying to break the habit of using neutral and looking for a 3rd pedal. This is the 1st automatic transmission car i own lol.

 

[Sean L]

Thanks for the in depth info! Putting it in park is definitely the way to go. Just trying to break the habit of using neutral and looking for a 3rd pedal. This is the 1st automatic transmission car i own lol.

You'll eventually stop stomping on the floor just before starting it. Took me a while.

 

[Jo's Jeep]

If a manual is a Millennial Theft Deterrent, would a touchscreen shifter be a Boomer Theft Deterrent?

Nah, I think Boomers are forward compatible...

 

[TA1ton]

@Hellow0rld you are welcome! That’s what we are here for! And yeah...you’ll eventually get used to just two pedals! My first vehicle was a manual and I think it took me a couple months before I finally stopped reaching for the floor shifter once I got my first automatic (shifter was on the column).

 

[Bswen]

You'll eventually stop stomping on the floor just before starting it. Took me a while.

ha! I remember one time I was driving my bosses car (he was in passenger seat) and he suddenly said, "pull in here!" at a gas station. I used both feet like I was in my 5-speed I owned at the time. SO, my left foot pressed the break in, as far as it would go like it was a clutch, at 60 MPH to zero real quick. He was like, WTF!!! His papers and laptop went flying. It was hilarious to me.

 

[Sean L]

ha! I remember one time I was driving my bosses car (he was in passenger seat) and he suddenly said, "pull in here!" at a gas station. I used both feet like I was in my 5-speed I owned at the time. SO, my left foot pressed the break in, as far as it would go like it was a clutch, at 60 MPH to zero real quick. He was like, WTF!!! His papers and laptop went flying. It was hilarious to me.

Yikes!

 

[ToolMonkey]

It's not normal to leave your car in neutral and put on the parking brake then turn your engine off. Was that your question?

That's how Remote start on manual transmissions work. Leave it in Neutral, that is normal. And Before someone on the forms that doesn't understand how it works says anything, its perfectly safe, all my manual transmission cars had remote start, I've never had an issue.

 

[Bswen]

Exactly, My sister-in-law recently got an X3 M sport and she tossed me the keys and said, "go take it for a spin."

I study this thing for a solid minute, tried to put it in reverse and the computer screens started flashing with what I screwed up on, and it stopped just short of calling me a noob...

Brings new meaning the term "idiot bell" and "idiot light" hahahaha

 

[Biscuit]

That's how Remote start on manual transmissions work. Leave it in Neutral, that is normal. And Before someone on the forms that doesn't understand how it works says anything, its perfectly safe, all my manual transmission cars had remote start, I've never had an issue.

^ An accident waiting to happen, possibly even a contender for a Darwin Award.

A vehicle with a manual transmission should always be parked in gear and the parking brake applied, period. Parking brakes are pretty wimpy anyhow, usually consisting of a cable and a single small drum on one wheel. And I've never seen a manual tranny vehicle equipped with remote start from the original manufacturer. It wouldn't work anyhow without disabling the clutch safety switch; doing so would create a huge safety hazard, probably shit-can the OEM warranty and violate federal safety standards.

 

[Bswen]

^^^ THIS! All it takes is one time that someone leaves it in gear and boom! Unintended consequences could be disastrous. I mean what if small child (or anyone for that matter) were near the vehicle that was in gear and it lurched forward at a very inopportune time?

 

[Shots]

There is a key difference on the "it's not normal" comment. The OP was referring to an automatic transmission. With an automatic transmission it's NOT normal to leave the car in neutral.
However, it IS normal to leave a manual transmission in neutral, and set the parking brake.
So the question of what is "normal" is dependent upon the transmission.

 

[Bswen]

There is a key difference on the "it's not normal" comment. The OP was referring to an automatic transmission. With an automatic transmission it's NOT normal to leave the car in neutral.
However, it IS normal to leave a manual transmission in neutral, and set the parking brake.
So the question of what is "normal" is dependent upon the transmission.

I would disagree, it is normal to leave a manual in gear and set the parking break. Not sure why people stopped doing this. Same with people that park on a hill and dont angle their tires towards the curb.

Accidental failures happen, why not the tiny extra second of precaution?

 

[Shots]

I agree with you, I've always shifted to 1st or reverse and set the brake when I got out. However, a lot of people leave their manual in neutral. Enough so that I'd consider it normal. IMHO, not the safest choice, but not out of the ordinary.

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