Only good drivers do that: One small movement when starting the car prevents a malfunction

My grandfather is a professional driver. That’s why he thinks everything he does in the car is right. But some of my friends are growing up with him in the car. It’s hard to reteach a stubborn driver, and when it’s my grandfather, it’s even more challenging. But there are things that even he understood. He may be unwilling to change some habits, but he’s now perfect at pressing the clutch pedal while starting.

Pressing the clutch pedal when starting your car may seem like a small gesture, but it actually has a big impact on the life of your car. Some modern cars won’t even start without it. It’s just not the same with older cars. And people often skip this step.

Why depress the clutch when turning the keys?

Shifting into neutral is important, but it’s not enough on its own. The moment you turn the key in the ignition, you should already have the clutch depressed. Why? Some parts of the transmission move when the starter is engaged. And especially in freezing weather, they can put up more resistance than average.

Pressing the clutch disconnects the engine from the transmission. As a result, less starter power will be required. This will not only result in less wear on the starter, but also less current being drawn from the battery,” explains automotive expert Mark Henderson.

Although the resistance that the transmission components put up may not lead to immediate failure. On the other hand, in the long term , the habit can hurt the car significantly. So, if some of my friends chastise my grandfather in the car for his bad habits, I usually stay out of it. In this case, however, I’m on his side and happy to explain to everyone why he no longer steps on the clutch when starting, even though he didn’t do it before.

Promoting good driving habits

In some modern cars , you can no longer start the car without pressing the clutch. Many people think that this is mainly to protect against accidents. After all, we’ve all had the experience of accidentally starting in first gear. I remember well the time when my car jumped into a wall because of a clutch failure and I had to deal with a completely unnecessary repair.

Newer cars often require you to depress the clutch whether you have it in first or neutral. You can avoid accidents like this. But beyond that, it’s also about trying to encourage good driving habits. Many drivers have no idea that this habit can make such a big difference to the life of your car.