If you stall the engine....?

**derekm** · 10-07-2008,02:05 PM

Hi,

I have had a couple of bad experiences with restarting the engine after a stall. The proceedure is so frustrating and means that if you stall it's potentially very dangerous. The car will not restart by simply pushing the key in. What were Audi thinking here

Did they not think about this happening.

If you stall the engine the ignition goes dead and the car will not restart...! You have to pull the key out a position depress the clutch and push the key in again...!

And if this happens to be at a busy junction or roundabout and you are stranded across a lane of oncoming traffic

it is a very scary experience indeed as you are fumbling round pulling and pushing keys and getting the clutch down at the right time.....

Getting the engine restarted takes so much longer than in any other car i have drive.

Its sooooo annoying.

What is everyone elses experience of this

**Richmix** · 10-07-2008,02:37 PM

I agree - it's happened to me. Can be quite frustrating. Bit of a pain isn't it?

I also find the car has a mind of it's own everytime I start the it. Sometimes it starts first time, other times I'm forever taking key out and pushing clutch

My left leg and left arm is now well toned though

**derekm** · 10-07-2008,03:03 PM

It is a pain in the **** if you ask me. I too have found myself pushing away at the key and nothing happening and wondering why the hell it wont start when you have clutch depressed.

I think the ergonomics of the ignition system could have been refined a bit more.

Tip
I have found out that if i stall and the car still has some momentum i.e. is rolling forward a bit. Then I just select 1st or 2nd and lift the clutch and this jump starts the engine again hassle free with no key + clutch nonsense. Obviously you need enough momentum to get it jump started. Doesnt take that much thou.

**mkc** · 10-07-2008,03:50 PM

Exactly the same situation in my current BMW with the start/stop key fob clutch process to get the thing started.

Ive not stalled for a while but as with any new car getting use to the clutch and bite point it took some getting use too.

With the BMW you have to take the key fob out, push it back in, press the clutch and then hit the start stop button. If you panic and get it wrong you look a right t1t at a set of lights. Not to mention the dangers of doing it after you have put half the car into the junction.

I love new technology and gadgets and the wow factor of some of these things but anything that puts me and the family in danger I dont like. No getting away from it with these new cars tho.

RichardCranium · 10-07-2008,04:31 PM

i've done the same thing a couple of times when i was getting used to the different car.

One thing i've noticed.... when you press the key to turn the engine off, sometimes the key wont come out. I've had to re-start and stop 2 or 3 times beofre the key will come out. weird

**JBlues** · 10-07-2008,04:42 PM

This is another advantage of the Advanced Key - just press the button!

I have done this a few times in my Passat and it's a bit of a panic getting used to doing what you need to do in the right order. You do get used to it though!

**pauldoherty** · 10-07-2008,04:57 PM

Originally Posted by RichardCranium

i've done the same thing a couple of times when i was getting used to the different car.

One thing i've noticed.... when you press the key to turn the engine off, sometimes the key wont come out. I've had to re-start and stop 2 or 3 times beofre the key will come out. weird

It happened to me a few times too - a tip is not to depress the clutch so it clicks in and out again without the engine starting - still a bit of a pain though I agree.

**jcb** · 10-07-2008,05:26 PM

i have a solution....buy a multitronic !!!

**AndyH123** · 10-07-2008,05:37 PM

Think I've stalled 3 times -

1st - Yes, scary.. hand automatically goes for the right hand side of the wheel. Much confusion.

Not had any problem with dipping clutch, as this is the 2nd car I've had where that's a pre-req to starting. Also not had any problems with removing / re-inserting key. Just foot down, press, drive.

2nd - Slightly less scary.

3rd - Weird. It was a stall due to rapid braking in 6th down to ~ 20mph and forgetting to dump the clutch. The car obviously stalled, but I didn't get the usual lights appearing and because the car is so quiet the only real clue was me moving forward at 0 revs!!

Dipped clutch, pressed key and I didn't get the familiar "vroom" of starting a car, it just regained its 1,000rpm and off I went. All a bit odd I thought.

**Foringo** · 10-07-2008,08:56 PM

No problem with stalling as I have a Multitronic but it sounds like a real pain....It's the interlock on the seatbelt and parking brake that bugs me though. I arrive at work and get out to unlock the gates, get back in to drive thru' & park on the other side only for the parking brake to remain on until I use the brake pedal....still don't remember each time. Although I have never ever actually forgotten to put my belt on & don't need Audi to tell me...grrrr

Shame that you can't programme preferences on the menu