What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[Dual]

Currently, I wait for the ABS and BRAKE lights to go out before I start the car.

Well in my current situation that could be several weeks before I drive again...

[slater]

^ This. It takes less effort for the starter once the fuel pump is primed.

how is it less effort for the starter? nothing the starter does it affected by a primed fuel pump.

[az3579]

how is it less effort for the starter? nothing the starter does it affected by a primed fuel pump.

If you wait for the fuel pump to prime, it takes less time to start the car, therefore less work for the starter. You're not spending that "starter active time" waiting for the fuel pump to prime.

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[NoVAphotog]

how is it less effort for the starter? nothing the starter does it affected by a primed fuel pump.

It doesn't have to throw in a couple extra *chiks chiks* before it starts waiting for the fuel... Idk...I agree. I get in and turn the key and my car starts right up in one or two *chiks chiks* even after sitting for awhile. I do usually pause like BP was saying, but sometimes I forget or am in a hurry.

[terraphantm]

^ This. It takes less effort for the starter once the fuel pump is primed.

I haven't really noticed it taking less time to start whether or not I let the fuel pump prime. I usually let the fuel pump prime by habit though.

Is this for the glowplugs? Like a "go for launch" light would be cool.

That LED isn't populated on non-diesel cars

[az3579]

I haven't really noticed it taking less time to start whether or not I let the fuel pump prime. I usually let the fuel pump prime by habit though.

There is a noticeable difference in my car, in both time to start and in effort to start.

That LED isn't populated on non-diesel cars

It is there, but it's not that symbol - instead it's the EML light. I looked it up on Google Images and confirmed it because I thought it was there, just with no LED. Same position in the cluster.

[slater]

If you wait for the fuel pump to prime, it takes less time to start the car, therefore less work for the starter. You're not spending that "starter active time" waiting for the fuel pump to prime.

yeah, but the major shock to the starter is when it gets energized. an extra half-second of spinning is not going to be that detrimental.

[az3579]

yeah, but the major shock to the starter is when it gets energized. an extra half-second of spinning is not going to be that detrimental.

Extra half a second now... but that extra half a second every time you start the car adds up over the life of the starter.
And besides - moving parts are moving parts. The less they have to move, the better. This is also the reason I don't like to let my engine idle for more than a minute at a time - it's unnecessary wear.

[NoVAphotog]

Extra half a second now... but that extra half a second every time you start the car adds up over the life of the starter.
And besides - moving parts are moving parts. The less they have to move, the better. This is also the reason I don't like to let my engine idle for more than a minute at a time - it's unnecessary wear.

I can't imagine the auto-start stop "feature" on the newer cars being good for these reasons...although to your last comment they could be good? Long lights, etc?

[slater]

Extra half a second now... but that extra half a second every time you start the car adds up over the life of the starter.
And besides - moving parts are moving parts. The less they have to move, the better. This is also the reason I don't like to let my engine idle for more than a minute at a time - it's unnecessary wear.

if you really want to get nitty and gritty about it, we can start talking about voltage and how an older or sub-par battery negatively affects the starter... but man, there comes a point where you have to live your life and just replace the dang starter if it fails.

i definitely don't take an "ain't care" attitude towards the car, but there is a balance between OCD and taking care of your mechanical stuff.

This is also the reason I don't like to let my engine idle for more than a minute at a time - it's unnecessary wear.

so you shut if off? but then when you restart all of those times - oh, the unnecessary wear on the starter!!

hahaha.