Can an engine be started in gear?
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Can an engine be started in gear?
Can an engine be started in gear, let's say in reverse for example? I know that, generally, in an automatic transmission the ignition key locks if it is not in park. Has anyone ever had the experience, or seen, a car start accidentally in reverse or drive? Is this a stupid question?
Drifting
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From: Cedar,BC
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
A C3 automatic transmission should start only in Park or Neutral. Starting in any other gear indicates problems with the neutral safety switch. The switch might otherwise be working but needs adjustment.
My advice is not to drive the car until you determine the problem.
My advice is not to drive the car until you determine the problem.
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Thanks for all the responses. Well, last Sunday was a beautiful sunny day on Long Island so I took my '71 out for a ride. Everything going beautifully. The ignition timing had been advanced a little a week ago and the car just responds and handles beautifully. But after advancing the timing, the engine diesels a bit when I turn the engine off in park. I was advised to turn the engine off in reverse, which took care of the dieseling problem. Well, I've been doing that no problem, but last Sunday, I forgot to put it in park after shutting the engine off at a gas pump. So I fill up, step on the gas to start, turn the ignition and BOOM, I lurch backwards but I quickly brake and only jerk back hard. A truck was parked close behind me. After shifting into park, and regaining my breath, I drove off and everything was working fine. Of course, all kinds of scenarios went through my head of what could have happened. I have a Hurst Quarter Stick and TH400...I think it's time to look into what happened to my neutral safety switch.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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The perosn who told you to stop the engine with the car in reverse may not have been doing you any favors.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Southern NH
if you shut it off in drive it most likely wont diesel out either, and it's easier to remember to put it back in park.
I dont think hurst shifters use a safety switch, I dont ever remember hooking it back up in the cars I've had aftermarke tautomatic shifters in.
I dont think hurst shifters use a safety switch, I dont ever remember hooking it back up in the cars I've had aftermarke tautomatic shifters in.
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From: California
i have a hole in one of my garage walls because my son started his jeep (he was tuning it and was standing outside of the vehicle) in the garage and it was in gear, it started and then headed for the wall as i was pulling as hard as i can to hold it back as he was trying to jump in and turn it off!!!... that bumper in that little CJ5 became a wall moving plow.... I will never let this story die. he needs to hear about it regularly:-)
Pro
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From: Carson City MI
Back in 1967 I was installing a new fan shroud in my 1960 Vette. I wanted to make sure the fan was clearing okay so I sat in the drivers seat with my legs on the ground, grabbed the 3 speed shifter and thought I put it in neutral. Actually was in reverse and as I hit the key it started right up. I had just enough time to roll into the car before the open door caught the side of the garage on the way out and slammed against my front fender. I can still hear that fiberglass tinkling to the ground. So my answer is YES.
Melting Slicks
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From: West Kingston RI
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Yes, you are right. There is a safety switch which must be depressed to be able to move the shifter from park (you also have to squeeze a handle-like a trigger-to move from park to reverse) and also to move from neutral back to reverse and then park (also need to depress the safety switch and squeeze the trigger back to park). But, unfortunately, it does not prevent accidentally starting the engine in gear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: West Kingston RI
Yes, you are right. There is a safety switch which must be depressed to be able to move the shifter from park (you also have to squeeze a handle-like a trigger-to move from park to reverse) and also to move from neutral back to reverse and then park (also need to depress the safety switch and squeeze the trigger back to park). But, unfortunately, it does not prevent accidentally starting the engine in gear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Southern NH
Looks like the safety switch is optional for a quarter stick. I would suggest getting one and installing it to prevent anything else from happening
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/huu-2488600/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/huu-2488600/overview/
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
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From: Calgary Alberta
Re: your dieseling issue - this is commonly caused by excessive idle speed. Typically when timing is advanced, idle speed increases incrementally. If your timing was advanced, and the idle speed was not correspondingly adjusted back to spec, you'd be left with an increased, and thus potentially excessive, idle speed.
Maybe you know this already, just trying to help.
Maybe you know this already, just trying to help.
Drifting
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From: Cedar,BC
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Thanks to everyone for the replies. I think it would be wise to look into installing the safety switch that you pointed me to from Summit Racing. That sudden backwards jolt at the pump was a little too much excitement for one day. Thanks again to all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
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From: West Kingston RI
Looks like the safety switch is optional for a quarter stick. I would suggest getting one and installing it to prevent anything else from happening
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/huu-2488600/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/huu-2488600/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/huu-3162001/overview/
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: West Michigan
After a long period of storage the clutch "glued" itself to the flywheel. Only way to break it loose is to start the car and get it up to speed and then slam on the brakes. I've had to do this twice.