Push button start in cold

[Diana1990]

Hey guys. So I have a weird question. I say weird but it's not. Everyone knows cold mornings cars don't start as easy as when its warm. I've always had key ignition cars and if you could hear it struggling to turn over in seriously cold days/night, I'd always give it a slight rev while turning it over and turning the key to give it more a kick. With a button start like my A class, you can't do this. Least I don't think so. I use my car perhaps 2-3 times a week, so I've wondered how you'd combat a cold morning start with a push button as you can't turn and rev like you would on standard key ignition starts.

With the cold here, got me thinking if my car is sitting out for few days and it's barely 2/3c.....sometime -1/2 overnight ....how could I combat the cold starts? You all know from previous thread that my car is 4yrs old and recently bought, my first push button start car. Battery looks at full charge currently and all working well. How do you combat the cold starts on cars with push button? Is there a trick to give it a boast on very very cold mornings or evenings?

 

[KennyN]

Just press the button and let the car do its thing without touching the pedals, never had any issues with the push button start in cold weather on any vehicles over the last 10 years or so.

K

 

[Diana1990]

Great advice lol. Nah, I was just wondering. Personally I prefer the old fashion key. You have more gusto to get it kick started it cold temps.

 

[Doodle]

Hey guys. So I have a weird question. I say weird but it's not. Everyone knows cold mornings cars don't start as easy as when its warm. I've always had key ignition cars and if you could hear it struggling to turn over in seriously cold days/night, I'd always give it a slight rev while turning it over and turning the key to give it more a kick.

I'm afraid to say that for anything with an electronic throttle body, that's not happening. During the start process (especially a cold start) the ECU will almost certainly assume total control and will therefore flatly ignore anything you do with the throttle pedal until the start cycle completes.

No extra gusto, no kick. You're an observer in this process until it decides otherwise. If I'm not mistaken all Mercedes have been tip start for a good 2 decades now, so even with a "key" it's been no different to a start button.

 

[Dryce]

Great advice lol. Nah, I was just wondering. Personally I prefer the old fashion key. You have more gusto to get it kick started it cold temps.

It has nothing to do with keys vs buttons.

Since the 1990s the electronic management systems in cars just look after the start. The old choke controls disappeared then. You don't have to catch the car on the accelerator. It either starts or doesn't. Just push the button - or turn the key - they do the same thing - instruct the car's systems to start the car. It will typically idle faster after cold start. If you have an automatic ransmission the car may drive differently when cold - hanging on to the lower gears longer and trying to rev a bit more.

You typically don't ever hear cars turning over more than once or twice before starting these days. Not like back in the day when the key actually directly controlled the starter relay and the accelerator was linked mechanically - and you changed the mixture with the choke.

 

[Diana1990]

Ahhhh okay. I've got the wrong info in my head then. Just always assumed a key, you had a more control over the starting process of the car

 

[BTB 500]

If I'm not mistaken all Mercedes have been tip start for a good 2 decades now, so even with a "key" it's been no different to a start button.

Yup even our 17 year old Vito van has 'one touch' starting on the key i.e. you momentarily move it to the start position then release and the electronics take over until it's running.

 

[Diana1990]

My Peugeot previously would always have a wierd start up if the car wasn't touched in few days, you could hear the struggle. New battery was put in so at this point the battery was barely 3yrs old. I could feel the struggle in that car and I'd alway rev right around the point I turned the key, it felt like it had more power going into it. All that time then I was wrong?

No one else had issues then with push button start in cold then?

 

[DSM10000]

Great advice lol. Nah, I was just wondering. Personally I prefer the old fashion key. You have more gusto to get it kick started it cold temps.

How does having a key help with starting?

A key or button just energises the starting circuit, that process is the same regardless of the method.

Mercedes have (or used to have) a system whereby you turn the key and you can then release it and the car will control the starter motor etc.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

It has nothing to do with keys vs buttons.

Since the 1990s the electronic management systems in cars just look after the start. The old choke controls disappeared then. You don't have to catch the car on the accelerator. It either starts or doesn't. Just push the button - or turn the key - they do the same thing - instruct the car's systems to start the car. It will typically idle faster after cold start. If you have an automatic ransmission the car may drive differently when cold - hanging on to the lower gears longer and trying to rev a bit more.

You typically don't ever hear cars turning over more than once or twice before starting these days. Not like back in the day when the key actually directly controlled the starter relay and the accelerator was linked mechanically - and you changed the mixture with the choke.

“ and you changed the mixture with the choke.” - and used the all important clothes peg in the process!

 

[Bellow]

My Peugeot previously would always have a wierd start up if the car wasn't touched in few days, you could hear the struggle. New battery was put in so at this point the battery was barely 3yrs old. I could feel the struggle in that car and I'd alway rev right around the point I turned the key, it felt like it had more power going into it. All that time then I was wrong?

If, the Peugeot had a mechanically linked throttle then maybe you slightly eased its breathing by opening the throttle though not by much - if at all.
As others have said, your MB will take care of everything as a designated start regime is implemented by the ECU.

 

[Diana1990]

Okay guys, thanks for the info. I'd always just wondered but guess I had wrong info attached to me. My Peugeot was 64 plate so not sure what kinda start up it had in terms of what's been suggested here. And in saying thag if cars struggle to start in just -1c something is wrong because although below freezing... That's not cold enough personally to stop a car.

Still always prefer key over button start up though

 

[fourwheels]

On older cars you could always put a clothes peg on the choke.
In my 1970’s new Ford (can’t remember which one) I amused people by lifting the bonnet and putting a clothes peg on the automatic choke.
Turn the key, or press the button, all the fun’s gone

 

[Bellow]

Okay guys, thanks for the info. I'd always just wondered but guess I had wrong info attached to me. My Peugeot was 64 plate so not sure what kinda start up it had in terms of what's been suggested here. And in saying thag if cars struggle to start in just -1c something is wrong because although below freezing... That's not cold enough personally to stop a car.

Two points. One, if it starts it starts. How it got there is of no concern. If one day it doesn't start then you can view what you've encountered as a warning sign. Most likely though it is just normal sluggishness.
Two. The main cause of difficulty in cranking to start a cold engine is the viscosity of the oil. Oils can thicken in service (soot contamination). You could consider an oil change if the oil in your engine is close to needing changed and, consider using the lowest possible W number - if not already in use.

 

[Diana1990]

Two points. One, if it starts it starts. How it got there is of no concern. If one day it doesn't start then you can view what you've encountered as a warning sign. Most likely though it is just normal sluggishness.
Two. The main cause of difficulty in cranking to start a cold engine is the viscosity of the oil. Oils can thicken in service (soot contamination). You could consider an oil change if the oil in your engine is close to needing changed and, consider using the lowest possible W number - if not already in use.

Well service was done July this year. I was more wondering then anything rather then there being an issue because there isn't.

 

[Bellow]

Well service was done July this year. I was more wondering then anything rather then there being an issue because there isn't.

Nothing to worry about then. I have a theory that is that things taken from our direct control seem to take longer than when we are in total control. I used to notice how long my smart cranked for with its 'one touch' key as I sat back and waited. Having to hold the key on on my Chevy I don't notice the time - as I'm part of the process.
Same with smart gearshifts which are frequently criticised for being slow. They aren't any slower than anyone would take shifting any manual transmission. They only appear to be slower due to the lack of driver involvement - just sitting there with nothing to do. Time always passes slower when we have nothing to do.

 

[Diana1990]

I've never had any car not start in the cold. I had some that you could hear struggled but did kick into life easily. But what doesn't help is if car isn't used daily like mine. It's only used 2-3 times a week for short town journeys. But I do give it good run to give time to recharge that battery. I'll see how my car starts Friday morning cause that's when used next

 

[jdrrco]

Your question was perfectly reasonable, Diana.

I can only apologise on behalf of the 49% of the species for those chauvinists on the forum who saw it as an opportunity to mansplain how keys or buttons work. At least you received some helpful responses.

Welcome to Mercedes ownership!

 

[chic0821]

Ensure the battery is fully charged. If using it a couple of times a week, keep it on a Ctek charger

 

[Dryce]

I can only apologise on behalf of the 49% of the species for those chauvinists on the forum who saw it as an opportunity to mansplain how keys or buttons work. At least you received some helpful responses.

[FX: Sigh and ]