How do you start a DeLorean?

[Shep]

I read an eBay ad for a DeLorean that said it started "with a quick turn of the key", and it got me thinking: I have yet to start a DeLorean properly. All three times I have done it, it's more luck than skill, even after reading the owner's manual. At first I tried starting it like any other car: turn the key and let it start itself up. That doesn't seem to work, so I tried pressing the gas pedal in about a third of the way in as the owner's manual instructed, and still nothing. Then I press it all the way in thinking it's not getting enough gas, and still nothing. Somehow I get it to start by playing with the gas pedal, and I have no idea what I did to get it to start. I cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong here.

So, for a 100% stock DeLorean, what's the "correct" way to start it up? :burnout:

[TTait]

Some modern cars accept the key turn as a signal to the computer to get the car started. My Chevy will crank itself for a second or two even after I release the key because the key does not start the car - it requests a start and the computer manages the request.

With the Delorean, you turn the key - the starter fires directly off that key turn (yes there is a relay in between, but its not changing anything, just protecting the circuit). With a properly maintained Delorean you can turn the key for 1/4-1/2 second and the engine will fire immediately. No tricks or hocus pocus. If you had trouble starting a car, it needs a little attention.

Tom

[SIMid]

I never pump the pedal. I just turn the key till I hear the fuel pump prime, then turn to crank. Always starts after the prime, no need to push the throttle. That's my Delorean anyway, others might be different.

[Dangermouse]

I think everyone works out their own way to start it.

I give the gas pedal a couple of half pushes before ignition. Yes, it probably means the system isn't ideal but the alternative to those two small pumps is to F around with it for two days and probably make it worse. :)

[Mike C.]

It depended on mine. If i drove it within a week, I turn the key to hear the pump prime and get the dash lights on, then turn the key and the car would fire within 3 whirls.

If the car SAT for more than a month, i would repeatedly have to prime the pump a few times, spin the engine for about 10 seconds, let it rest, and then it would usually fire in the next 5 seconds with a chug, and then come to life and run perfectly smooth. Just a quirk I learned to deal with.

[dmc6960]

Turn the key and go. If you have to do anything else the car isn't tuned properly or you let it sit too long between drives.

Edit Add: after 4-6 months of winter storage, on years I didn't do any major work, the car started right up after two primes of the pump. Just be mindful to prime the system first or you'll loose the 10 second window on the thermal-time switch.

[Rich]

I turn the key immediately to START, engine cranks for 2 seconds, fires up, then settles down to idle. Warm start cranks about 1 second before firing.

Foot is off accelerator before/during/after starting. OEM/stock setup.

[Rhsxo]

You could try this:

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/rhsxo/deloreanstart-1.gif

In all honesty, I have never once had a problem starting my DeLorean. I put the key in, turn it and it should fire right up.

[refugeefromcalif]

I've only had mine for 2 days but, (so far), I just turn the key to Start, and it does.

George

[nullset]

I push the 'start' button on the remote from Toby's Wings-A-Loft...... ;)

[jawn101]

+1 to just turning the key and letting it start. I got in the habit of turning it to 'ON' first and letting Dave's RPM relay prime for a second before actually starting, but it isn't at all necessary.

[David T]

Unless you converted to a carb there is no accelerator pump to squirt fuel into the motor and there is no choke to "set" so you don't have to depress the gas pedal for that. A well set up Delorean will start without touching the gas pedal. If the car has been sitting for, say a week it will crank a little longer than if you ran it the day before. Once you start it that day it will start very quickly after that all day, cold, warm, or hot. I never noticed any difference stepping on the gas pedal except that once it starts it idles higher for a couple of seconds, depending on how quickly you release the pedal. The key does control the starter motor directly, no computer to run through the start sequence for you.
David Teitelbaum

[cybercusp]

Turn the key and go. Fires right up.

[Ron]

That doesn't seem to work, so I tried pressing the gas pedal in about a third of the way in as the owner's manual instructed, and still nothing.
FWIW, the owners manual says "approximately one quarter of its travel". Pressing the pedal only changes the position of the throttle plates. IMO-It really doesn't matter unless it is very cold...ensures the throttle plates will allow enough air to pass if/when the cold start valve is spraying once the starter is engaged (...and helps "clear the engine" with a short rev I'd guess). Once the system is set up correctly, there is nothing else you can do to affect starting. Note pumping the pedal before turning the key does not affect starting at all.

[Kevin]

Here's a question: Do you all start it with the clutch in or out? And does it make a difference?

[Dangermouse]

I thought Driving 101 was to start with the clutch out (i.e. pedal pushed), just in case it is in gear.

[Kevin]

I thought Driving 101 was to start with the clutch out (i.e. pedal pushed), just in case it is in gear.

That's what I've always done, modern cars usually won't let you start unless you do so, but since either way works in the DeLorean, I've seen both. I think I've heard that one way is easier on the starter. But yeah, either way, it feels safer to disengage the clutch.

[Jacko]

My personal drill to start the D is to put the trans in neutral, let out on the clutch, turn the key. Without any hard evidence to prove it I have always thought the engine is easier to turn over with the clutch disengaged.

[David T]

Before starting a manual transmission car you:
1) make sure the parking brake is on
2) move the gearshift to make sure it is in neutral
3) step on the clutch (optional on a Delorean but not newer cars with a clutch safety switch)
4) turn the key
On the automatics you just make sure it is in park or neutral because they have a safety start switch so you can't start in gear.
David Teitelbaum

[Shep]

Thanks for the replies everyone! So there seems to be a consensus: no gas pedal for K-Jet/EFI. I guess I was thinking of a carbed car when I tried the gas, but it seems to work on the more modern cars I've driven, none of which have computer-controlled ignition systems. Even the '93 Jag seems to do better with a bit on the gas. But if it doesn't mechanically do anything for a DeLorean during ignition, that's not part of the issue then. Maybe letting the fuel pump prime was the key I'm missing. I'll give that a try next time I'm near one.

In terms of the D's I drove, one (mine) is now getting a rebuilt fuel system, so that may have been part of it. I had these problems starting it the first two times I got it running. The third time it wouldn't start and the battery died, which no doubt was bad gas. The other D had gone through nearly 1,000 miles in the previous week or two alone and was in pristine condition. VERY mechanically sound, so fuel wasn't the problem there. That's what got me wondering, since it handled identically to mine.


Here's a question: Do you all start it with the clutch in or out? And does it make a difference?Neither. I've only driven stick once, and it was a friend's Mazda, back when I was trying to decide between stick or auto. When I found an automatic D, that problem was solved and I no longer had a reason to learn stick. I've only dealt with automatics besides trying to learn stick.

So now comes another question: how much does the idle change when it "catches" and starts running under its own power? It didn't seem to be as obvious of a change as the other cars I drive. My Civic in particular cranks at around 800 RPM, but when it "catches", it goes up to around 2,000 RPM and then settles back down to about 1,000 RPM. It doesn't seem to be quite as dramatic with a DeLorean, so now I'm wondering if I really did start it correctly, but simply didn't know I had succeeded and thus kept cranking. Maybe I'm just a wee bit oblivious.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The idle ECU opens the idle air passage according to the engine temp. But if you wait to long after turning the key on, that will slowly open the idle air passage to full open. Your curb idle setting will affect some idle air.

If you step on the gas before the engine starts you are also opening up the idle air volume. But you also turn off the idle switch so as soon as the engine is running it gets advanced timing.

What I do on every car is crank it without touching the gas and if it's not started within a second, I give it some gas. Most always my D will start instantly without any added gas. My Malibu will need some gas about 50% of the time or it will start on the second try.

[Ron]

My personal drill to start the D is to put the trans in neutral, let out on the clutch, turn the key. Without any hard evidence to prove it I have always thought the engine is easier to turn over with the clutch disengaged. It is easier to turn the engine over with the clutch engaged (pedal down). The difference is that the starter (and battery) don't have to turn the clutch disk and input shaft...but really insignificant, unless you are starting something like a bulldozer.


So now comes another question: how much does the idle change when it "catches" and starts running under its own power? It didn't seem to be as obvious of a change as the other cars I drive. My Civic in particular cranks at around 800 RPM, but when it "catches", it goes up to around 2,000 RPM and then settles back down to about 1,000 RPM. It doesn't seem to be quite as dramatic with a DeLorean, so now I'm wondering if I really did start it correctly, but simply didn't know I had succeeded and thus kept cranking. Maybe I'm just a wee bit oblivious.Nothing you do should affect the way it starts/idles -- It's all designed to be automatic.
Of coarse, if you have your foot on the gas pedal it will rev up to wherever you had it held...until you get off of it.
As said with the other, turn the key and forget about it...otherwise it needs attention.

[Michael Babb]

Here's a question: Do you all start it with the clutch in or out? And does it make a difference?

I learned to drive on a manual, and learned to leave the clutch in when starting any manual car . . .had the crap scared out of me enough times early on where I thought it was in neutral, turned the key and then whiplash yourself as the car lurches forward.

For me and the D, it was always get in, ensure e-brake was set, depress clutch, move shifter to neutral, then start (sometimes depressing accelerator) . . .

[Spittybug]

I thought this was a joke thread like "how many engineers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" (it depends how big they are...)

Before reading any of the posts I had my own answers ready;



with your fingers crossed
intermittently
while rolling downhill
with several of the fore mentioned engineers' assistance
cautiously
with a fire extinguisher at the ready
with one of those Irish girls in the Chicks thread......

[jawn101]

I thought this was a joke thread like "how many engineers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" (it depends how big they are...)

Before reading any of the posts I had my own answers ready;



with your fingers crossed
intermittently
while rolling downhill
with several of the fore mentioned engineers' assistance
cautiously
with a fire extinguisher at the ready
with one of those Irish girls in the Chicks thread......


These are all way better answers than mine.

[Shep]

The idle ECU opens the idle air passage according to the engine temp. But if you wait to long after turning the key on, that will slowly open the idle air passage to full open. Your curb idle setting will affect some idle air.

If you step on the gas before the engine starts you are also opening up the idle air volume. But you also turn off the idle switch so as soon as the engine is running it gets advanced timing.:confused0: I'm not familiar with any of those parts other than the ECU, engine, gas pedal, and key, so I have no idea what any of that means.

By the way, it seems you posted within seconds of my earlier post. Both 1:25 PM Eastern.


I thought this was a joke thread like "how many engineers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" (it depends how big they are...)

Before reading any of the posts I had my own answers ready;



with your fingers crossed
intermittently
while rolling downhill
with several of the fore mentioned engineers' assistance
cautiously
with a fire extinguisher at the ready
with one of those Irish girls in the Chicks thread......
:hysterical:

[Dangermouse]

:confused0: I'm not familiar with any of those parts other than the ECU, engine, gas pedal, and key, so I have no idea what any of that means.


:hysterical:

Don't worry, you will be :)

[jawn101]

Don't worry, you will be :)

And eventually with all of Owen's scenarios, too :)

Edit: Except maybe the Irish girls one. YMMV.

[TTait]

I think the proper procedure with the Irish girls would be to look for a place where you can park the car, set the hand brake, and shift into 5th.

[Shep]

I think the proper procedure with the Irish girls would be to look for a place where you can park the car, set the hand brake, and shift into 5th.To start it? :hmm:

[pezzonovante88]

I just turn the key to prime the fuel pump. Then turn the key. Voila!
If it's been sitting for a while, I may press the pedal down a little bit before I crank it. It always starts up on the first try (knock on wood!)

[centauri]

I learned to drive on a manual, and learned to leave the clutch in when starting any manual car . . .had the crap scared out of me enough times early on where I thought it was in neutral, turned the key and then whiplash yourself as the car lurches forward.


I once used the starter motor like this to back my '78 Esprit uphill onto a flatbed when the clutch went out. The whole experience felt just wrong.

[stevedmc]

I normally push start my car when I want to start it.

[DMC5180]

Gee, I thought Steve Rice would simply bang his Forehead on the Steering Wheel to start it. :biggrin:

[stevedmc]

Gee, I thought Steve Rice would simply bang his Forehead on the Steering Wheel to start it. :biggrin:

That only works in the movies. Steve Rice lives in the real world.

[Shep]

Steve Rice lives in the real world.Since when? :tongue: