05 corolla starting up question (normal)??

[anewfoundsin]

sometimes on my 05 xrs , i have trouble starting the ignition when i 'quickly' step on my clutch and turn my key. sometimes i wont start! i have to hold it for like ONE whole second (which seems like FOREVER when i happen to STALL like at a traffic light)... is this normal!???? i hate STALLING (which rarely happens to me now) but waiting that ONE second and THEN turnin my key to turn on the ignition. . do u get the same reaction? or is this normal w/ all cars? or just my car??? helP>>

[silver04rollas]

Not sure, but I have a habbit of pressing the clutch first then pressing the brake ( you are supposed to press the brakes when you turn the key and the clutch depressed) and there is my 1 second anyway and then turn the key. Never have a problem. As for the stalling in traffic, when I got my XRS last month, I had that problem a few months, but the key is not to panic. The traffic in the back can wait. Just take your time put the car in neutral and press the clutch first, press the brake and turn the ignition. Put your right foot on the gas with just enough pressure for the revs to come up to 2000 rpm and start releasing the clutch and as soon as the clutch grabs ( i.e car starts moving) release the clutch instantly and press the gas to start accelerating. Another common thing is starting out uphill. Use your hand brake to keep the car from rolling backwards and keeping the clutch from wearing out, start releasing the clutch while keeping a little pressure on the gas pedal. When the cars wants to move, release the hand brake slowly while pressing the gas pedal and releasing clutch.

[darth_rolla]

I think I know what might be happening...

One of the first things I noticed about the XRS is that you have to press the clutch ALL THE WAY to the floor to start the ignition. I haven't had a problem with starting it at all since my first drive. Don't be afraid to rev it when you are going slow either... the engine just wants to sing.

[silver04rollas]

LOL.... I could tape the sound of the car especially when the lift kicks and listen to it all day long. It is almost symphonic, with honey bees buzzing and humming under the hood.

Originally posted by darth_rolla
the engine just wants to sing.

[rolla-XRS]

Originally posted by anewfoundsin
sometimes on my 05 xrs , i have trouble starting the ignition when i 'quickly' step on my clutch and turn my key. sometimes i wont start! i have to hold it for like ONE whole second (which seems like FOREVER when i happen to STALL like at a traffic light)... is this normal!???? i hate STALLING (which rarely happens to me now) but waiting that ONE second and THEN turnin my key to turn on the ignition. . do u get the same reaction? or is this normal w/ all cars? or just my car??? helP>>

Interesting. I thought I was going nuts too until I saw your post. I've been in a few similar situations where I've stalled at a light and then turned the key only to get nothing....then panic (because people are honking at my new baby)...so I ended up releasing the clutch, turning off the car, hitting the clutch and restarting.

I'm going to test this someplace in a parking lot where it's more controlled because it may be that I'm not getting my foot all the way to the floor. I had a bad experience with that issue on a Celica GT-S where I ended up getting the vehicle towed without realizing that my winter floormats kept my clutch from going 100% down.

As an aside, this clutch is the best I've had on an car. I used to miss gears and grind all the time with my old crappy Mazda. I haven't missed a shift yet in 6 months - a new record.

[silver04rollas]

That is simple. It happens to me as well sometimes. It is because I do not have the clutch depressed completely to the floor. Not sure what this safety feature is supposed to render apart from all of those beepers this car is equipped with that just keep beeping for no reason...LOL (OK, exaggerating )

Originally posted by rolla-XRS
then turned the key only to get nothing....then panic (because people are honking at my new baby)...so I ended up releasing the clutch, turning off the car, hitting the clutch and restarting.
.

[darth_rolla]

Originally posted by rolla-XRS
I had a bad experience with that issue on a Celica GT-S where I ended up getting the vehicle towed without realizing that my winter floormats kept my clutch from going 100% down.

i betcha love those little hooks that keep the mat perfectly in place. Those things rock! At first I didn't know what they were for, until I saw the mat with the holes in it.

[rolla-XRS]

Yup...that's why I now only buy Toyota carpet ans all-weather mats! Holes included!