Delay when turning key

[mdwilson]

Greetings! Here's my question: When I turn the key there is what seems a two second delay before the starter kicks in. Can anyone enlighten me? Is this normal?

[Dave Van]

Mine does it when I just get in and turn the key. I think I read here or somewhere that that 'delay' is so the electronics can booy up...like a PC. Now I get in, turn the key until the lights all come on, put my seatbelt on and then start...this way it's all 'booted' up when I turn the kiey....

[bumblebee08]

Dave van is correct. They smart is a very "smart" car. Everything runs through the computer. I have a lot of experience at work with PLC control systems, that is how the smart works. Every switch and button in the car is routed through the computer. When you turn the key to start the car, you are basically sending an input to the computer telling it to start the car. My father has a new Toyota Tundra that is the same way, all he has to do is bump the key, and the computer turns the engine over until it starts. None of the switches or pushbuttons on the smart directly control the end object, they send an input to the computer and the computer operates the control, whether it be windsheild wipers, headlights, defroster, etc.

[NY Smartie]

mine does the exact same thing. normal.

[kwagar]

As stated this is normal. My dealer informed me when I picked up the car to turn the key to the normal position and pause for just a second before twisting it to start. Have always done that and have had zero problems.

[shack01]

Originally Posted by bumblebee08

My father has a new Toyota Tundra that is the same way, all he has to do is bump the key, and the computer turns the engine over until it starts.

Actually, our smarts are the same. Next time you fire up, turn the key only momentarily to the start position and you will see that the car will start all by itself! You can be buckling up while it is doing its thing.

tm

[24-42]

Originally Posted by shack01

Actually, our smarts are the same. Next time you fire up, turn the key only momentarily to the start position and you will see that the car will start all by itself! You can be buckling up while it is doing its thing.

tm

Shack is correct.
Put ignition at '1', car in 'N', foot on brake, turn key to 'Start' and let go keeping foot on brake, buckle up and/or whatever and car will start on its own.

Donald LaFavor

[knutliott]

If you turn the key to "on" and sit for a second until the in-dash information center displays the 'P' for park, it will then start immediately when you turn the key to start.

Like others have said, that slight delay is the computer waking up. If you let it wake up first, there's no delay.

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by shack01

Actually, our smarts are the same. Next time you fire up, turn the key only momentarily to the start position and you will see that the car will start all by itself! You can be buckling up while it is doing its thing.

tm

As a corollary to this... my dealer showed me that if you hold the key in the start position too long, it will not grind the starter. Once it's started, the starter disengages. One more benefit of computer control.


On a side note - I once picked up another car from the dealer service department, after bringing it in for an ignition relay recall. They drove it out to the waiting area, got out, handed me the key... and the car was still running because the starter was still spinning. After 4 techs ran to unhook the battery in record time, I had to pay $450 to replace a starter solenoid.

[xcrew229x]

So the car IS smart-er than the driver..........