Never Start Your Car Like This

Summary

Scotty Kilmer dives deep into the common mistakes people make when starting their cars and explains the negative impacts these mistakes can have on your vehicle. He emphasizes that modern fuel-injected cars don't require accelerator presses while starting and warns against continuously engaging the starter. The video provides insights into the complexities and pitfalls of start-stop engine systems, highlighting how they can accelerate wear and tear on vehicles despite claims of improving fuel efficiency. Kilmer passionately argues for practices that extend vehicle life and reduce unnecessary maintenance costs.

Highlights

• Starting your car properly can prevent expensive repairs. 🚗
• Revving your engine during cold starts increases wear significantly. 🔥
• The start-stop system can seem beneficial but may lead to more maintenance costs. ⚙️
• Modern cars handle electrical loads better during startup than older models. ⚡
• Cleaning battery terminals avoids many common starting issues. 🔋
• Turning off auto start-stop extends vehicle lifespan. 🚗
• Replacing starters is costly and time-consuming, especially in complex setups. 💸
• Understanding car maintenance can save you money and extend car life. 🛠️

Key Takeaways

• Avoid revving your engine upon start; it adds unnecessary wear and tear. 🚗
• Re-engaging the starter while the engine is running can damage your flywheel. 🚫
• Modern start-stop systems may increase vehicle wear despite slight fuel savings. 🤔
• Always maintain clean battery terminals for optimal car startup. 🔋
• Turning off the auto start-stop feature can prolong your car’s life. 💡

Overview

In his eye-opening video, Scotty Kilmer shares essential tips on avoiding common car starting mistakes that could lead to costly repairs and maintenance. He breaks down why you shouldn’t touch the accelerator pedal when starting your fuel-injected vehicle and explains the damage potential of engaging the starter on an already running engine. His charming yet practical advice is a reminder of how simple actions can prolong your vehicle's life and save you money.

Kilmer's deep dive into the auto industry’s start-stop system unveils a multitude of issues that could arise from this seemingly eco-friendly feature. He emphasizes that while it may boast minor fuel efficiency improvements, it inherently causes faster wear on crucial engine components, leading to more frequent maintenance and repair costs. His snappy commentary sheds light on the cost behind the shift towards modern vehicle features and advocates for consumer awareness.

From addressing battery maintenance to the intricacies of starter function, Scotty provides guidance with his signature humor and warmth. His message is clear: be mindful of how you start your car and take proactive steps in vehicle maintenance. With little steps like cleaning corrosion from battery terminals and turning off unnecessary features, any car owner can ensure their vehicle's longevity, saving money, and avoiding the traps set by the auto industry's evolving standards.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Starting Cars The chapter titled 'Introduction to Starting Cars' provides insights on the correct way to start a car. It emphasizes that modern cars are designed to start simply by turning the key, without needing to press the accelerator, due to fuel injection systems. It also advises against attempting to restart the car if it is already running, as although this action won't immediately harm the car, it is not recommended.
• 00:30 - 01:00: The Starter Mechanism The chapter titled 'The Starter Mechanism' explains the functioning of a car's starter mechanism. The chapter highlights that the starter has a component called the Bendix drive, which is equipped with a small gear that extends outward to mesh with the flywheel, thereby spinning the engine. It is noted that the starter gear is designed to freewheel, meaning that if it remains engaged, it allows the starter to spin independently without causing damage. This mechanism ensures that even if a car is started and revved simultaneously, no harm is done, as the flywheel remains engaged and the starter gear simply freewheels, preventing any destructive interference.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Effects of Starting Errors This chapter discusses the implications of starting errors in vehicles, particularly when mistakenly engaging the starter once the car is already running. It explains that while initially, forgetting to stop cranking might not cause damage, repeatedly hitting the starter could lead to damaging sounds and potential wear on components like the Bendix Drive and flywheel. However, it notes that although starters can get chipped with frequent errors, they are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace compared to other potential damages.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Importance of Proper Lubrication The chapter discusses the significance of correct lubrication, focusing on its impact on the flywheel in an engine system. It explains the mechanical process when the engine starts: the starter teeth engage with the flywheel, which is a circular gear that spins. The text highlights the importance of maintaining the flywheel's teeth, as damage can mean a difficult and labor-intensive repair involving either pulling out the engine or the transmission to replace the flywheel. This underscores the necessity for proper maintenance to ensure efficient engine operation.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Starting Myths and Misconceptions The chapter discusses common myths and misconceptions related to car engines and transmissions. It highlights the difficulty of handling automatic transmissions due to their weight and complexity, and advises against neglecting maintenance as it can lead to problems, such as starting the engine when it’s already running, which can cause damage. Additionally, it warns against revving the engine right after starting the car, especially when it's been idle for a while, as the oil needs time to properly circulate and lubricate the engine parts.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Ground Wires and Battery Care The chapter provides advice on starting a vehicle engine with a focus on preventing wear. It emphasizes that a significant portion of engine wear occurs during startup. Therefore, it suggests allowing the engine to idle for a few seconds instead of revving it immediately, allowing adequate oil pressure to build up and lubricate the engine parts. The text also mentions turning off all accessories before starting the car, although it notes this is less critical in modern vehicles.
• 05:00 - 05:30: Issues with Start-Stop Systems The chapter titled 'Issues with Start-Stop Systems' discusses modern cars, even those as old as a 94 Celica, which have relays for systems like air conditioning. These relays help prevent voltage surges when starting the car, thus protecting components like the air conditioning system and radio. The transcript emphasizes that modern cars consume a minimal amount of electricity, making this a lesser concern. However, it advises that older cars or those with a failing battery should have all accessories turned off before starting to avoid potential issues.
• 06:00 - 06:30: Cost Implications of Start-Stop Systems The chapter discusses the cost implications of start-stop systems in cars, specifically focusing on the impact of leaving electronic systems on when starting the car. It dispels the myth that leaving devices like the AC on will harm the car during ignition, pointing out that modern cars are equipped with relays designed to handle this. However, it mentions that poorly manufactured cars, exemplified by Fiat, have inferior relay systems which may be prone to burning out if systems are not turned off before starting the engine.
• 07:00 - 07:30: Maintenance Tips for Start-Stop Systems This chapter provides maintenance tips for start-stop systems in cars. It emphasizes the importance of keeping battery terminals clean to ensure reliable starting. Corrosion on terminals or nearby parts can hinder a vehicle's electrical system, potentially preventing the car from starting. The chapter advises checking for corrosion regularly, cleaning it off, and sealing the area with anti-corrosion paint. Maintaining a clean battery terminal is highlighted as a simple yet crucial task.
• 08:00 - 08:30: Car Manufacturers and Planned Obsolescence Chapter discusses the importance of maintaining car battery terminals, emphasizing the role of positive and negative connections. Highlights the necessity of clean and corrosion-free ground circuits for proper car functionality. Mentions that ground wires can be hidden and require regular checks due to potential corrosion and vibrations.
• 09:00 - 09:30: Advice for Car Longevity Check battery terminals regularly for corrosion or looseness. Clean and reattach if needed to avoid starting issues.

Never Start Your Car Like This Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 rev up your engines today I'm going to show you how not to start your car most cars are made to just start turn the key start you don't have to do anything they're all fuel injected you don't want to touch the accelerator it doesn't need touching and if you forgot that your car is running do not turn the key to start it again now doing so won't instantly destroy your car the starters are built
• 00:30 - 01:00 smartly enough of course the original ones weren't they would have burn out but the bendex drive the starter has a little gear that pops out and then that meshes with the flywheel and Spins the engine realize that the starter gear will Freewheel if you do engage it it will spin the starter that's why if you start your car up and rev it up while you're starting it the engine can rev and it doesn't do any real damage cuz the flywheel is already engaged to the starter gear and the starter gear will Freewheel it'll just spin so it won't destroy
• 01:00 - 01:30 anything if you do it when you're starting at first I mean it's not a good idea to leave it cranking forever anyways but if you forget that won't hurt anything but if the car's already started and then you hit the starter again as that Bendix Drive pops out generally it's going to mash against the spin and flywheel make horrible noises now that's not a good thing if you do it many times gear on the starter and a bendex drive will start getting chipped but that's the least of your worries because starters don't cost all thatn much it can be easy replaced
• 01:30 - 02:00 but that's not the case for the flywheel bolts to the back of the engine when you turn the key the starter teeth engage on the flywheel it's a 360° Circle and it just spins on the gears spins the flywheel well if you start chipping the teeth off on a flywheel since the flywheel is between the engine and the transmission you got to pull either the engine or the transmission out in order to change the flywheel a gigantic pain in the rear end job now in most cases
• 02:00 - 02:30 it's easier pulling a transmission but still most people drive automatic transmissions they're very heavy they're a royal pain to pull off of a car you don't want to have to do something like that because you weren't paying attention and you turn the starter on when the engine was already running now another thing not to do when you start your car is don't rev your engine up the worst time for your engine is when it's set all night and you start it up the lubrication the oil has to be pumped all through the system you got to build up o oil pressure it's got to go from the
• 02:30 - 03:00 bottom sump pump all the way up to the overhead cams and the valves you don't want to just start it and rev It Up start it and just let it run for a few seconds it doesn't take more than a few seconds for the engine to get oil pressure all over the place but since about 90% of your engine wear and the metal Parts occurs during startups you don't want to wrap your engine up right when you start it up now that's a good idea to turn all your accessories off before you start the car but in modern cars it's not really all that big of a
• 03:00 - 03:30 deal because modern cars even it's 94 Celica it has relays for the air conditioning system and other systems so that when you start the car there isn't any kind of voltage surge that can destroy the air conditioning system or the radio or whatever and really today it's only going to consume such a small amount of electricity it really doesn't matter now if you're driving old junker and your batter's going out in the engines if you're not going to go out and buy a brand new battery it's a good idea to turn everything off before you
• 03:30 - 04:00 start it cuz you might drain enough out that the car won't start but leaving stuff on when you crank the car these days that's an old wies tail that doesn't fit anymore it's not going to hurt anything if you got to turn the AC off there's relays for all that stuff but if you do have a poorly made car like a Fiat and they're full of relays yeah those relays will burn out faster if you don't turn everything off because they're so poorly made and they got tons of Reay all over the place so for those things turn everything off before you start a car
• 04:00 - 04:30 and to make sure your car starts every time hey do like I do make sure you got clean battery terminals here now I do have to say there's a little bit of crud here but that's not in a terminal that's on the hold down strap I need to clean it paint you can see the paint's come off and it's all rusty now corrosion is the enemy of electrical system you see any corrosion clean it off then seal it with some anti-corrosion paint when you're done you don't want to have any kind of corrosion car might not start because all this stuff is gotten eaten up simple thing to check once in a while while clean it off with a brush spray it
• 04:30 - 05:00 with some cleaner and perhaps one of the most forgotten things when you're starting your car is the whole battery is negative and positive positive one feeds all the positive Wares but the negative one grounds the entire car and if you don't have ground circuits it's not going to work make sure this end is clean and follow the other end and make sure that the ground is nice and clean and not corroded these ground wires are often hidden all over the place often under things we can't even see them engine to chassis ground that has a lot of vibration some sometimes they get
• 05:00 - 05:30 loose check them every once in a while if they're corroded take them off clean them and bolt them back on I have had so many customers come to me with starting problems and all as it was was a corroded or loose contact on any of the terminals from either the positive or the negative of the battery the idiots in Washington decide that hey you need to get better gas much so let's have cars that when you come to a stop they turn themselves off and aren't running and they start up again now at the max you might get 2 or 3% better gas mod so
• 05:30 - 06:00 it really doesn't affect much at all except for one big thing not only does it make the cars more expensive to build but it also makes them wear out faster now you might see this little button we'll start up this Jeep okay and you see this little button here that says a off well guess what make it a habit to push the a off see how the lights on no it won't turn the engine off when you come to a stop will continue to run like a normal car and won't keep turn itself off starting
• 06:00 - 06:30 itself up most of the wear on your engine occurs when you start the car right the oil's in the bottom of the engine the oil pump has to spin pump the oil to the top of the engine to start lubricating every time you shut the car off the oil goes back down it's got to be pumped back up again right you really want to be starting and stopping your car all the time it will wear the engine out faster it'll wear the starter out faster it'll wear the battery out faster you got to listen to this sta these are guys that are for this oh it's a great idea it's going to save the planet right
• 06:30 - 07:00 better gas mod they said oh it's not going to hurt your engine because it says normal engine bearings are typically designed to withstand 100,000 start cycle so 100,000 start and stop right but they say these new bearings in the stop start cars are designed to withstand 250,000 to 300,000 start Cycles so if you get them the benefit of the doubt 100,000 is normal even if they go 300,000 that means the bearings can start and stop three times more before they get damaged but if you Drive in the
• 07:00 - 07:30 city all the time come to a lot of stops keep starting and stopping you can start and stop a 100 times more than normal okay the car keeps shutting off turn on even if your engine barings are a new design it'll last three times as long you're starting and stopping at 100 times more so to me you're really losing out maybe the Barons will last three times as much but you're starting a car 100 times more so do the math it's going to wear your car out a heck of a lot faster than a car that you started and drive it around and don't keep turning
• 07:30 - 08:00 it on and off it's only common sense then of course there's the money and the complexity of the start stop system this is why I tell people if you got one of these by law you can't turn it off the way it was built from the factory permanently so every time you start the car you got to push the off button for the automatic start stop the light will come on and then it won't turn itself on but every time you shut off the car go home whatever and then when you start it again you got to push the button just get in the habit of doing that if you want your car to last a long time because they don't tell you this when they sell oh you're saving the planet
• 08:00 - 08:30 with a start stop system right ha and of course the batteries are going to wear out faster now on this Jeep it's got a real wacko design if you look for the battery under the hood good luck there's no battery under the hood there's a terminal now the terminal here that's used so you can jump start the car you can jump start shows you picture you can jump start it because the actual battery of the car is under the passenger seat but I lied I should have said the actual batteries cuz this stupid thing has two batteries a regular battery and an
• 08:30 - 09:00 auxiliary battery to help with the start stop system so look at this paint in the butt in order to exess the battery you got to move the seat the whole way up and I mean the whole way up all right so we open the back door pick out the mat get out a giant screwdriver or some kind of pry bar snap off the cover and pull it out we have to go back to the front to pick the top tank
• 09:00 - 09:30 off can we move the seat back forward and hopefully it'll come out now there it is stupid cover what do we see under here not one but two batteries all right this is the auxiliary battery which has a penny on it not a good thing it could charge something out stupid to put a battery under seat and then we have the regular battery here so now you got two batteries instead of one now you're paying more for the system it's got two batteries and if you got a replace them po po po the little tiny
• 09:30 - 10:00 battery is not cheap it's 139 bucks or a new one the big one will go from 250 to 350 depending on the quality of the battery when you replace it it's going to cost you more and if you know anything about batteries these two batteries work in tandem so if one goes bad gener to the other one will go bad too so you're really better off replacing them in pairs when they go bad so there's 5600 bucks you got to throw away to replace two batteries instead of one to me it seems like a real half ass design but then it is Chrysler after all I
• 10:00 - 10:30 should say stellantis two batteries in this case instead of one even if you only had one they are more expensive batteries because they got to keep starting the car and guess what people they'll wear out faster now you can keep them from wearing out faster just remember the simple trick start the car you have to start it first then push the automatic off so the light goes on and now it will
• 10:30 - 11:00 not shut itself off while it's idling it's that simple Ben your battery will last longer your starter will last longer you'll spend less money maintaining the car and at best this thing will get two to three% better gas modage that is it and considering that this thing gets like 16 m a gallon and stop and go traffic 2 to 3% of 16 m a gallon isn't diddly squat now you'll notice the starts stop features generally on bigger vehicles like this
• 11:00 - 11:30 or big trucks with V8 engines and of course the stupid start stop system doesn't affect gas Modge at all when you're driving on the highway because you don't suut the car off while you're driving on a highway right so it has such a limited use it's got so many negative side effects it only makes sense this is something that was made to comply with government regulations of better gas mods generally in Big Gas Hogs like this to make them appear to be green when they're not green at all now I know some of you naysayers are saying
• 11:30 - 12:00 oh Scotty you're just exaggerating things so the starter goes out how expensive could it be replace a starter well it's a four-wheel tribe Jeep so they got a V6 engine but check this out not only is a starter it's 345 bucks but it is 5.9 hours of Labor it's almost 6 hours of labor to replace it so with what the Jeep dealers charged for labor that is a $900 labor job so 900 plus like 350 in tax that's you can see replacing the
• 12:00 - 12:30 starter is not a cheap thing on one of these and believe me it's going to wear out faster unless you push this little button to turn it off and then it'll be a regular car and it won't keep turning itself on and off hundreds of times during the week to save 2 to 3% gas mileage but of course even that thousand something dollar repair is a spit in the bucket when your engine wears out faster the piston rings the bearings on the engine just price the replacement of one of these engines change out an engine okay it's a little over $2,000 labor and then the engines woo they're insane I
• 12:30 - 13:00 mean some guys will try used ones take pot lock you're looking at a small fortune no matter where you find an engine and if you take a Gamble and get one of those remanufactured engines you have no idea if it was rebuilt correctly right guys that work in those places a lot of times they don't know what they're doing I've seen so many rebuilt engines go out 20 30,000 miles or less I don't advise people to even use them unless they really know a guy who knows how to rebuild them and there's less and less of those guys as time goes on
• 13:00 - 13:30 they're even older than me I neighbor T here and now like he I'm not going to do that anymore the new engines are too complex they cost too much money I don't get any business cuz people will get another car instead of replacing the engine but of course that just lays into the hands of the people building the vehicles planned obsolescence they would love it that you buy another vehicle when your engine wears out now it's not going to wear your engine out in 5 minutes it's going to take years but then when it's worn out and you got to buy another vehicle instead of continuing to drive a car like my
• 13:30 - 14:00 17-year-old Matrix that still runs like a clock it does not have start stop option on it still gets 37 m a gallon doesn't burn any oil right they don't like cars like that they like Vehicles like this wear out faster force people to buy new ones when things break down and then if they don't want to buy a new one pay extravagant repair bills because of the ridiculous design now two batteries under the seat bad enough it's under the seat it could have made a better design in there right but do they
• 14:00 - 14:30 really care no they're thinking how can we make them so this system works but won't last too long well we'll just stick another auxiliary battery in none of this stuff makes any sense really making sense isn't what car manufacturers are into they're into making thousands and thousands of dollars per car so they'll build in planned obsolesence and then they'll say well the government made us do it to meet EPA it's not our fault we have these start stop systems the government made us do it so as I say follow the money if you want to see the truth and this case if you want to follow your
• 14:30 - 15:00 money and leave most of it in your wallet soon as you start that car shut off the auto start stop function and your car will last longer you'll spend less money maintaining it and you'll be happy even though the manufacturers won't cuz they want that baby to wear out as soon as it gets out of warranty so that shots the case on start stop systems now you know all about them so you can make a wise choice yourself not waste your money not wear your vehicle L faster just because somebody says oh here's a great idea why don't you use
• 15:00 - 15:30 it so if you never want to miss another one of my new car repair videos remember to ring that Bell [Music]