[asinn]

hi guys, i recently bought a MCS, and i found everytime i stall the car, i need to switch it off and restart again, i can just restart the car from the ON position.

Is this normal? because all my previous cars, i can just restart the car from the ON position after stalling.

[PyroTech]

Not sure if it is 'Normal' , but mine does the same when I go to start it and do not get it fully turned over. Once you are in the on position and have turned the starter, you must turn it back to acc, then try again. I would beleive it was done in an effort to keep people for 'double starting' their car and burning out the starter.

[usaminicooper]

My opinion when the car starts it should not stop unless there is a mechanical reason.
This should be checked out by service if it continues.

[Paul]

This is how it works.

Best tip. Stop stalling.

[asinn]

this is my first manual car......... so........ can't really help it by stalling at hill start

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by asinn

this is my first manual car......... so........ can't really help it by stalling at hill start

You'll get there, especially as it's such a pain to restart it!



Do you not have to pass a test in a manual to drive one?

[JeremyApp]

over here in the states, you only take one test...for some reason they think that people who pass the test in an auto are fine with a manual...not smart, but oh well

[Paul]

I know that's true of the USA, didn't know Aus had the same policy.

[asinn]

in aus its pretty easy, u just need to take an automatic driving test, after you get your full licence, you can drive manual striaght away........

so pretty much anyone that have a full licence they can legally drive manual

[Paul]

Always seems kind of crazy to me. Clutch and gear control is an important part of the manual test in the UK, and if you only take the Auto test, you can only drive autos.

[afromanbob]

Yeah, I'm so glad in the U.S. it's only one test. I'd be very nervous taking a manual driving test. I'll be getting my license in September, then my manual Cooper around Novermber, or so.

[stryder]

The New York Times had an article a year or so ago pointing out the intracaces of the UK driving test (as the Author of the article moved, but I guess her license expired or whatever, she needed to take a UK one).

Suffice it to say, you may be used to all the little quirks of getting a license in the UK, but its pretty insanely difficult compared to the US, and pretty much the rest of the world. I hear its difficult in Germany though. Exchange students that are above 16 tend to get US licenses while they're here that automatically transfer back.

My not so bright at times brother forgot to renew his license when he moved to CA from NY, so it expired, and then when he went to get a CA license, he had to retake the road test. As his only car is a WRX (rather modified too, but not in a obvious way) he had to take the test with a manual. The instructor said he was like the only person that year to take the test with a stick, and given that road tests usually take like 15 minutes or less, that's a pretty low % of people. She also commented that he could actually shift smoothly, so I guess any of the other people in previous years barely knew how to drive a stick anyway.

Anyway, back to the topic, you'll learn quickly, in a few weeks at the most you won't be stalling very often at all, and you can look back at the next person who stalls on a hill and remember how bad you were when you started.

[jwardell]

Here in the US they hand any idiot a license. And they get to keep it without a re-test till they die. IMO standard drivers are more attentive drivers in general, and therefore safer. Not many manual SUVs out there.

Back on topic I've noticed this all-the-way-off problem as well. I stalled a few times adjusting to my new MINI, and several times when it doesn't successfully start. Previous cars I would just go back to start but in the mini I need to go all the way off then all the way to start again. A little perplexing the first few times it happens.

[bodinski]

The e-brake can be a big help when starting up a hill. Slowly release it whilst releasing the clutch. Then again, that kinda takes the sport out of it. Oh well..

[Malin Dixon]

Quote: Originally Posted by bodinski

The e-brake can be a big help when starting up a hill. Slowly release it whilst releasing the clutch. Then again, that kinda takes the sport out of it. Oh well..

I assume you mean the handbrake. Using the handbrake to hold the car while starting on a hill is part of the test in the UK. IIRC, any amount of roll back is a fail. For most UK drivers, using the handbrake for a hill start is done without thinking.