Rep Power: 289

how bad is it for the car to restart it when its on already? my family treats my car like crap. both my mom and my sister drove my car around when i was gone for college. so my dad told me that they restarted car a few times while the car was already on, resulting int he horrible screeching and grinding sound . i think this happened 5-7 times within the 2 months already. how bad is that for the starter and other engine parts?

 
Rep Power: 283

Eh that depends on how long they held the key on for. When you turn the key it fires up the starter which has a very small gear that turns over the motor. So, when you try to start a motor that is already spinning what you get is grinding the starter's gear. Repeatedly grinding the gear eventually rounds the edges of the gear and it can't kick the motor over anymore.

 
Rep Power: 289

thanks, i could tell theres damage, compare to my friends 7th gen, i had to hold my key in the start position a lil longer to get the car starting. oh well, not good for the long run.

 
Rep Power: 283

Bummer, it sounds like it's worn then. If it won't start one day but the electrical system works then you know what it is, expect to pay a few hundred bucks by the way.

 
Rep Power: 0

One good thing, the starter is very easy to install

 
Rep Power: 289

its alright, i bought my 02 civic when the economy was bad awhile back. so the dealer was desperate to sell, i got the car few hundred under invoice with a 7 year warranty on it. i guess that will be put into use.

 
Rep Power: 0

gald you got that package.. sorryto hear your parents did that.. I have done it before on accident, my car is so quite inside that I thought it was off... oops

 
Rep Power: 394

Not good...

 
Rep Power: 0

a good thing to prevent this that i learned from my dad is to always turn the car all da way off, if you like have the radio on, then, for sure, your engine is off, then that wont happen.... happy driving

 
Rep Power: 381

Doesn't the gear on the starter mesh with the gear on the flywheel on a manual?

 
Rep Power: 0

no matter what, i've never done this. ya gotta be really stupid to not know your car is on... no matter WHAT. Just pay attention people. Helps sometimes.

 
Rep Power: 361

I've done it a couple times . not recenlty, but when I first got the car, just because I was used to my old car and hearing it run. . When I first got the Vic I couldn't tell it was running most of the time.

BTW. . you don't have to shut it off, just glance at the RPM gauge or something, I realize not everyone has an RPM gauge, but do something if you aren't sure..

OH. . and 1 more word of advice. . . Don't let others anywhere near control of your car. . I find that the people I know don't even respect my car from the passanger seat. There is no way I'm letting them touch my car.

Anyone notice how the passanger side is always 10 times dirtier than the drivers side? The carpet is more worn? People just in general don't have as much respect for the owner, whether they realize it or not.

 
Rep Power: 333

It meshes with the flywheel on all cars. Auto's and manuals. The gear the starter uses to kick over the engine is on a solenoid so that when you are starting the car the gear moves into place on the flywheel but when you release the key after the engine is kicked over the gear retracts back to it's "holding" position.

 
Rep Power: 361

What if the gear doesn't retract? Would it be the same effect as if you turned the key over whilst it was running?

BTW that noise scares the **** outta me when I do it. . I get startled, jump, and let go of the key instantly. . Which I guess is what you are supposed to do..

And, speaking of the "holding position" .. I have my Mountain Dew in "holding position" right now. . mmmmmm..

 
Rep Power: 0

usually burns the starter.