Instantaneous starting on newer cars

[wirelessF]

I was watching a video review on a 2014 BMW and when the person started the car the engine started in less than a second. Some vehicles would take 4 cranks to start (about 2-3 seconds.) I thought my GM truck started up right quick but newer vehicles light up fast!

 

[Lead Shoes]

Depending on the weather my old Honda's start very quick compared to the other cars of the era, but I let them idle a min or so while I get the dials set in and situated.

 

[Shannow]

New fuel pump on my L67, and she starts real quick...

 

[The_Jeff]

My 92 Cutlass Ciera 3.3 had a pleasureful, quick crank-hit.

IIRC the Ford Modular was one of the first engines/ control systems that mandated a certain number of cranks (4?) before starting was allowed to happen. Before then, the computer would be trying to run at every crank trigger event.

To really compare systems, bump start different cars!

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
IIRC the Ford Modular was one of the first engines/ control systems that mandated a certain number of cranks (4?) before starting was allowed to happen. Before then, the computer would be trying to run at every crank trigger event.




Interesting. I always wondered if this was the case. My chevy truck will catch before the first cylinder is fired it seems, yet my 91 BMW gets exactly four cylinders (the cyclic cranking noise, whatever it is actually) and then catches on the fifth without fail. The DI BMW needs two and a half every single time.

I was never sure if the computer wanted to see the engine turning or if it was something else.

I kind of like the idea of the engine moving a bit without fuel injectors pulsing, just to get fluids moving, then fire...

 

[Danno]

My son's 2008 GM Ecotec 2.2 Liter starts in the first 1/2 second, while my 2013 Sonata DI 2.4L takes about 2 seconds. ECM programming at work is my assumption.

 

[supton]

Good chance the crank and cam sensors may have to see some edges on the (what do you call them? the things they sense--not the crank/cam but the gear-like object) in order to get properly adjusted in order to have proper timing figured out. Those sensors are not dumb on-off switches.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
My 92 Cutlass Ciera 3.3 had a pleasureful, quick crank-hit.



Mine does as well barely hit the starter and its running.

 

[Boomer]

Our Passat diesel TDI starts almost instantaneously. Most times it does not appear to complete one engine revolution before it is running.

 

[blackman777]

Originally Posted By: wirelessF
BMW engine started in less than a second. Some vehicles would take 4 cranks to start (about 2-3 seconds.)


I rented a Fiesta that didn't crank at all. It simply spun the engine to 1000 rpm & then lit it off. It was computer-controlled. (When warm..... when temp dropped to 10F it took longer.)

 

[spasm3]

I wonder if the models that use a crank position sensor, take few revolutions to map before firing the ignition.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
I wonder if the models that use a crank position sensor, take few revolutions to map before firing the ignition.


I know that was the case for '80s vintage BMWs equipped with the Bosch Motronic engine management system. If the CPS die while the engine was running you'd never know it- until you went to try and start it the next time.
My 1975 will start almost instantaneously once it is warmed up; it feels as if it fires in less than a one full revolution.

 

[Eddie]

I used to have a 1960 VW bug that would start by just turning the ignition key to RUN. Apparently the points were in contact and the cylinder was close to TDC. This would happen about 1 in 50 times. Ed

 

[weasley]

My Audi A1 has the "start/stop" system (ie, it will shut down the engine whilst sitting at a junction or stop light). It is a manual transmission, so when you shift into neutral and lift the clutch it stops. When the light changes, by the time I have the clutch down to the bottom of its travel the engine has started again.

Also, there are some cars that restart with no starter motor at all. The ECU can determine if the engine stopped with one of the cylinders just past TDC on the power stroke - if so then a quick squirt of fuel (direct injection) and a spark will get the thing going again.

 

[bigjl]

I had a 2013 Jaguar XJL 3.0d fitted with stop start for 5 days last week whilst my car had some warranty stuff done.

The engine started almost instantaneously every time.

Would start before you could fully lift your foot off the brake.

My 94k miler has no stop start fitted and though not as fast does start within a second or so.

Wifes Clio is similar though did notice it needed a good few seconds to start when the temps were below 10oC on the Maxlife 10w40 Diesel oil i put in there last year.

 

[bigjl]

Originally Posted By: Danno
My son's 2008 GM Ecotec 2.2 Liter starts in the first 1/2 second, while my 2013 Sonata DI 2.4L takes about 2 seconds. ECM programming at work is my assumption.


BiL's Vectra 2.2 direct ( same engine as your GM) takes a bit longer than yours.
You can hear it crank over for a couple of seconds when he heads off in the early hours.

 

[Vikas]

People who are talking about 2 second crank time; that is a L O N G time!!

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
People who are talking about 2 second crank time; that is a L O N G time!!


Completely agreed!

If anything I own took that long I would probably shut it off and wait, then re-try. These days they all light up super fast.

If they don't then you're likely bleeding off fuel pressure after shutdown.

I still have two critters with carbs, you learn how to pump then tickle the throttle to keep squirting in a bit of fuel. They might stumble and die off in very cold weather but they still light off nearly instantly if properly primed...

 

[meep]

remember the pre-injected days? A warb carb'ed motor could indeed crank over on one hit-- just bump it. The distributor knew where it was...

or could deplete the battery on a cold wet day, and never get (there)

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: meep
remember the pre-injected days? A warb carb'ed motor could indeed crank over on one hit-- just bump it. The distributor knew where it was...

or could deplete the battery on a cold wet day, and never get (there)


Nothing could bring out the joy of a points/distributor setup like a cold wet day! That would expose the poor parts immediately...