Push button start features - Not a good experience.

[Astro14]

I wish that was the case. My 2005 dodge neon would like a word after the ignition broke due to cheap pot metal.

My point, exactly. Lots of ignition locks and keys broke. The pushbutton actually makes more sense to me.

The only point to having a key on the column was anti-theft - can’t turn the lock, can’t turn the wheel.

But they used to break all the time.

Most cars in the 1960s had a key on the dash - not in the column - for example, but the anti-theft was mandated, and the additional complexity made for more failures.

 

[Gyro Gearloose]

After driving my Ridgeline several years I realized what a hassle keys were when I had to go back and drive my Mother in her Camry. After going to the grocery store I would have to set one set of grocery bags down to get car keys out of my pocket, set other set of bags down because I guessed wrong on which pocket contained car keys, fish keys out of pocket, pick up change and other keys dragged out with car key, unlock car, put keys back in pocket to load mother, wheelchair, and groceries in car, fish car keys out of pocket again, put key in ignition and crank steering wheel to relieve pressure on ignition lock so it would turn. In my truck I hook pinkie over door handle to open, load stuff inside, and tap start button.

 

[Nessism1]

While I can appreciate that modern electrical technology in vehicles makes some people worry, overall, in my opinion, it's just amazing stuff that makes our lives better.

My $22,000 OTD Civic has push button start, along with proximity sensing with the key, so the doors unlock automatically. This economy car also has automatic temperature control, heated seats, bluetooth connection to my phone, and various other modern features. Given the vehicle's price point, it's pretty amazing.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I have had the ignition switch break in one of my trucks some years back. No, I did not try to have them banned. Just like this story. There was no intention to start any anti or pro push button movement. It was mostly wondering if others had issues. OK, now, I am heading to the store in my horse drawn carriage.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

My point, exactly. Lots of ignition locks and keys broke. The pushbutton actually makes more sense to me.

The only point to having a key on the column was anti-theft - can’t turn the lock, can’t turn the wheel.

But they used to break all the time.

Most cars in the 1960s had a key on the dash - not in the column - for example, but the anti-theft was mandated, and the additional complexity made for more failures.

I like the idea of the pedal start like in the past. But I guess it is just easier to install near the steering wheel and likely safer than near drivers feet?

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

While I can appreciate that modern electrical technology in vehicles makes some people worry, overall, in my opinion, it's just amazing stuff that makes our lives better.

My $22,000 OTD Civic has push button start, along with proximity sensing with the key, so the doors unlock automatically. This economy car also has automatic temperature control, heated seats, bluetooth connection to my phone, and various other modern features. Given the vehicle's price point, it's pretty amazing.

I really like the way one can hold the key button when approaching and all the windows go down to help start letting the hot air out before one enters the car.

 

[nomas]

Pushbutton starting .. Remote starting using the fob or a phone app ... Ain't technology a wonderful thing ?

 

[Astro14]

I like the idea of the pedal start like in the past. But I guess it is just easier to install near the steering wheel and likely safer than near drivers feet?

It wasn’t easier to install at the steering wheel. It was federally mandated in 1970. It was more complex, more expensive to manufacturer, and offered more modes of failure than what was done before. But all manufacturers had to go to it.

My point was a bit more tongue in cheek. Guys who are complaining about the new stuff (pushbutton) not working, don’t realize that the thing they want (column key) was once the new stuff, and it didn’t work flawlessly, either.

That said, it’s nice to be able to crank the engine with the ignition off, if you’re dealing with getting an updraft carburetor to atomize fuel in cold weather. So, an ignition switch with a key in the dashboard, and a starter button on the floor, as an example.

 

[JeffKeryk]

No starter button; Vette and M3.

 

[CKN]

I'm adding this story to my long list of reasons to never own a push button start vehicle.

You realize the OP's situation is an anomaly. Right? Meanwhile tell me the rotating (key lock) cylinder never goes bad in a vehicle. Many have been around long enough to know they do.

 

[nomas]

Starter button on the floor is a bad idea these days . The old mechanical peddle is a thing of the past .

 

[D60]

I have had the ignition switch break in one of my trucks some years back. No, I did not try to have them banned. Just like this story. There was no intention to start any anti or pro push button movement. It was mostly wondering if others had issues. OK, now, I am heading to the store in my horse drawn carriage.

It's the internet, man. No matter what you say someone wants to attack or criticize you. Some like to think this forum is better, but it's no different than anywhere else.

 

[Gyro Gearloose]

Starter button on the floor is a bad idea these days . The old mechanical peddle is a thing of the past .

Actually it wasn't that great an idea even back when it was the default. Everything was manual trans, starting on a hill required a contortionist move to hold the brake, give it a little gas, and press the starter all with only 2 feet. My first car - 54 Chevy truck.

 

[nomas]

Don't " punch " starter buttons and don't have a key ring with two pounds of keys hanging off of it and either way of cranking a vehicle will probably work for many years .

 

[PF52]

....starting on a hill required a contortionist move to hold the brake, give it a little gas, and press the starter all with only 2 feet. My first car - 54 Chevy truck.

Starting on a hill was the best! Roll starts were always fun to amaze friends with.

 

[97prizm]

My point, exactly. Lots of ignition locks and keys broke. The pushbutton actually makes more sense to me.

The only point to having a key on the column was anti-theft - can’t turn the lock, can’t turn the wheel.

But they used to break all the time.

Most cars in the 1960s had a key on the dash - not in the column - for example, but the anti-theft was mandated, and the additional complexity made for more failures.

The only downside is that if you aren't aware of the push button start If I remember correctly you have to hold it to turn it off.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

OMG, push buttons are in use 25+ years. More reliable and cheaper to fix than old fashion ignition lock.
This is on par: let me tell you bad experience with multiport injection over carburetor.

Yep, My 2000 Honda has push button start. Still works fine.

 

[Astro14]

The only downside is that if you aren't aware of the push button start If I remember correctly you have to hold it to turn it off.

Not mine. Spring loaded to the “up” position, where it is off. Press down (with your right foot) and you directly connect the battery to the starter via a large copper bar internal to the switch. Mechanically simple. Reliable. With use - the copper wears out.

 

[MRC01]

The one thing I don't like about the pushbutton start in my 2014 Mazda is that it's impossible to go directly from drive mode to accessory mode. The button cycles through the modes in a sequence that is round-robin not FILO (first in, last out).
The sequence: off - accessory - on/drive - start - off (repeat)
FILO would be: off - accessory - on/drive - start - accessory - off

For example, you're driving along with the radio set to BlueTooth from your phone. You arrive at a drawbridge that is up so you will be stopped for 5 minutes. After stopping you want to turn off the engine but keep listening to your tunes. The pushbutton sequence forces you to go through the OFF position, then cycle back to accessory, which kills the BT connection so there's a long pause while it reconnects. If you could go from on/drive directly to accessory, then back to on/drive, you could do this seamlessly - like you can with a traditional key ignition.

The reason for round-robin is that FILO would require 2 button pushes to go from drive to off, which is done more often than drive to accessory, so they optimize for the most common case. But they should have given a way to go directly from on/drive to accessory without shutting it completely off, for example with a long push.

 

[MRC01]

Actually it wasn't that great an idea even back when it was the default. Everything was manual trans, starting on a hill required a contortionist move to hold the brake, give it a little gas, and press the starter all with only 2 feet. My first car - 54 Chevy truck.

Heel & toe works fine for that. But it doesn't work when the gas & brake pedals are 3 miles apart from each other, as they are in those old trucks.