I was showing my Dad the Honda S2000 engine start button that I installed as we were about to head out and grab a six pack of beer. I started the car using the button and then he (my Dad) pretended to hit the button again after the engine was running thinking it would grind the starter. I said "It doesn't matter, if the clutch isn't depressed, the starter circut won't work". So I showed him, and that is when I realized my clutch WAS depressed as I was just coasting down his driveway.

The starter would not operate with the engine already running, not with the key or the start button. Engineers truely do make cars idiot proof.

Anyway, thought some of you would find that interesting, I have not seen anything written on this before.

 

Interesting...so theres never a chance of some tool in the passanger seat hitting it and doing any damage...

 

No, even if you have the clutch depressed. I guess when the computer knows the engine is running, it will not let the starter become energized.

 

Anyone want to test that theory on the car without the switch installed?

 

I tried it with the key. The switch has no bearing on this. But, I don't know if an automatic is the same, I imagine it is.

 

you can't "Double start" these cars

 

Not that it matters, as I've NEVER double started a car , but this is good to know.

 

When you are talking on a cell phone, eating a burger and fumbling to put a seat belt on, it can happen. I have not done it in my Mustang as it is too loud to not know it is running. But some cars are very quiet at idle, and smooth, and therefore more likely possible to do it to.

 

I was hopping somebody would test this. I've wondered ever since I bought the car if I could "double start" it. I was starting to think about just trying it, but havn't been able to bring myself to do it. I figure with my luck, it would break something the first time.

I've only double started a car once (my Taurus), and it's not like I can't hear my Mustang running, so I've never been worried about it

 

Yeah... I got distracted once while getting in the car, phone ringing or something. And I accidently tried to start it while it was running. There was no grinding but all the gauges reset.

They went to 0 or cold and then back. It was kinda cool.

 

my wife was sitting in the driveway in her 98 contour(demo), and went to start the car(already running). maybe she's the reason they added this feature
She destroyed the flywheel and starter with a half second 'BRRRRAAAPP', and it sounded like gravel in the gears at startup next time- guess they actually had to drop the cradle to separate engine/replace the flywheel...musta been an aluminum gear as it really ate it up bad.