have to press clutch to start in neutral?

Why do I need to press the clutch when starting the truck neutral? I read using the clutch start cancel button is a bad idea when used a lot - 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 4cyl 2.7L.

Best.

 

Depressing the clutch unloads the crank spline, which has some amount of resistance even if no gear is selected on the drive spline. It's easier on the starter if your clutch is depressed when starting, especially when its very cold (freezing or lower).

Clutch start cancel is for using the starter to move the truck when it won't start (stuck on the tracks and a train is coming). I guess you can use it regularly, but I wouldn't.

 

One word: Lawyers.

Clutch cancel is designed to bypass clutch safety switch for off road operation. There are situations where you would want the ability to start the truck in gear.

You can use the cancel button every single time you start the truck, nothing bad will ever happen IF you have the transmission in neutral. The danger is that you get in a hurry and forget about the neutral part. Yes, I admit I have done it.

 

I had not heard of that. Might be because we don't have cold here in coastal CA.

 

Just curious, why would one NOT want to use the clutch to start?

 

LOL, it was ~20 below one day. I started the truck and let the clutch out. It came out very slowly, and the engine rpms dipped really low. I had to give it a bit of gas for a few seconds - I was afraid it would snub.

A long time ago, I was ice fishing near Internation Falls, MN. It had gotten down to about 40 below, and the morning I went to start my car, I couldn't get the stick out of first - it was like it was frozen in place. After 20-30 minutes of me standing on the clutch, I could finally move it to neutral, but it was like stirring oatmeal.

90w oil doesn't like the cold much.

 

Not all trucks have this. If you get into the habit of using it, have fun starting up a truck without one.

 

Just put it into neutral is all I do. Heck, my Nissan's clutch start broke somehow and I had to jimmy rig it the switch.

 

Lol youre not alone brotha