View Poll Results: Does leaving the key on engine on (but without starting the engine) ruin anything?
Voters: 113. You may not vote on this poll
Does leaving the ignition on with the engine off hurt the engine or ECU?
09-16-2006, 10:24 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 153
Does leaving the ignition on with the engine off hurt the engine or ECU?
This is burning my mind, maaan!! Well, not really... but...
I've read in some old book not to leave the key on engine on but with the engine not actually running (actually on) for long periods of time. So I never do it. But I've seen other people do it, absentmindedly, to listen to the radio.
Does it really hurt our maximas?
09-16-2006, 10:29 AM
#2
Originally Posted by Thorby
This is burning my mind, maaan!! Well, not really... but...
I've read in some old book not to live the key on engine on but with the enginne not actually running (actually on) for long periods of time. So I never do it. But I've seen other people do it, absentmindedly, to listen to the radio.
Does it really hurt our maximas?
09-16-2006, 12:30 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 153
MMm.. maybe I did not explain myself..
Originally Posted by kcryan
Use accessory mode for radio?? that just hurts the battery
What the factory put in there to listen to the radio is ACCESSORY.
Yes, I can see how listening to the radio in ACCESSORY can run down the battery.
Listening to the radio with the switch in ON, however, is different and it activates the computer.
The ignition switch has this order: 1. OFF 2. ACCESSORY 3. ON 4. IGNITION
09-16-2006, 01:21 PM
#8
Originally Posted by succamadeek
your questions are incredible....
by incredible i mean incredibly stupid....
by incredible i mean incredibly stupid....
Anyway I still say no. I mean the ecu is on when the car is running too. That doesnt kill it. I dont know what your reading but I wouldnt worry so much.
09-16-2006, 01:26 PM
#9
brother your a newb...not to maximas just cars in general...ill throw ya a stick
leaving the key in "on" or "acc" will only kill the battery. The ecu will take no damage. and as for the driving over 3000 rpm thing please dont ever say that again people will respect you more. if that was true my car would have been dead along time ago along with ALOT others.....think about that..
leaving the key in "on" or "acc" will only kill the battery. The ecu will take no damage. and as for the driving over 3000 rpm thing please dont ever say that again people will respect you more. if that was true my car would have been dead along time ago along with ALOT others.....think about that..
09-16-2006, 01:39 PM
#11
I wouldn't see why it would hurt the ECU... that's how you are supposed to diagnose your car, reset the ecu... all on "On" mode... the only thing I would see is the life of your dash lights ( CEL, handbrake,belt, etc...) would have a shorter life then expected 
09-16-2006, 01:41 PM
#12
Originally Posted by shadyonedeath
He's talking about leaving the car Idle.
Yea, its not that good.
Yea, its not that good.
09-16-2006, 01:49 PM
#13
I have the key in the on position while I am cleaning the inside of my car, so I don't have to hear the buzzer. That takes around 45 minutes. Nothing wrong yet.
I keep the key in the accesory position when i wash my car to listen to the cd player. That takes a little more than an hour.
So no, I don't think it will hurt the ECU or anything. THe only thing I see it hurting would be draining the battery. Just make sure you start it up after a while to 'recharge' the battery.
I keep the key in the accesory position when i wash my car to listen to the cd player. That takes a little more than an hour.
So no, I don't think it will hurt the ECU or anything. THe only thing I see it hurting would be draining the battery. Just make sure you start it up after a while to 'recharge' the battery.
09-16-2006, 03:33 PM
#16
HAHAHA i love this guy... he brightens up my day... this forum use to be boring until u came along Throby... ur like that guy that got into a frat just cause... no benefit to it and no harm can be done from u joining...
the answer is no, it won't harm ur ECU OR ur engine...
I vote to string whoever voted yes up and beat them with a broken stick.
the answer is no, it won't harm ur ECU OR ur engine...
I vote to string whoever voted yes up and beat them with a broken stick.
09-16-2006, 08:11 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sandy, Utah
Posts: 125
The idea that you shouldn't leave your key on (in run position) with your engine off comes from the past when cars had actual ignition coils, points, etc... The thought was that it would kill the coil to leave it hot all the time. Now that every car known to man has a computer that controls everything, it doesn't matter except for draining the battery. My '69 Mustang has actual points, condenser and a coil and I have never left the key on it for that reason.
09-16-2006, 10:21 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sandy, Utah
Posts: 125
ethnic6 wow, I wonder what ancient car book he's reading all these things from?!?!
09-18-2006, 01:52 PM
#27
Originally Posted by ethnic6
wow, I wonder what ancient car book he's reading all these things from?!?!
I know i'm a newb here, but i'm not a newb to cars. I had the same thought a couple of days ago, but i figured with computers and OBD that it wasn't an issue now adays, looks like i was correct.
09-18-2006, 06:16 PM
#32
Originally Posted by NmexMAX
You're a newbie to A32's, bottom line, and it IS a car, so in that sense you're a newbie to THIS car.
09-18-2006, 07:04 PM
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 153
Originally Posted by Cdg2125
No he's not talking about leaving the car idle. He's talking about turning the key to the on positon and not turning the car over just for power.....window control, radio, wipers, etc. Why the hell would it be bad to keep the car at idle?! How does that make sense?
<-- I'm the one in blue.In any literature that you read about how often to change the oil (including the Hanes manual) it says to change it more often if the user has a habit of idling the car to long. I supposed that meant the engine has a harder time just sitting there at 900 rpms for exagerated lengths of time.
Off topic.. but whatever
anyway... (NOT! )
09-18-2006, 07:09 PM
#34
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 153
My goodness! A good (even flameless) reply!!
And now, aside from the flaming, the ACTUAL solution to the question:
There ya go.
I thought it would damage the coils or something, but your cases proves your point.
Originally Posted by WasatchY2KMax
The idea that you shouldn't leave your key on (in run position) with your engine off comes from the past when cars had actual ignition coils, points, etc... The thought was that it would kill the coil to leave it hot all the time. Now that every car known to man has a computer that controls everything, it doesn't matter except for draining the battery. My '69 Mustang has actual points, condenser and a coil and I have never left the key on it for that reason.
Originally Posted by Dave H.
I have the key in the on position while I am cleaning the inside of my car, so I don't have to hear the buzzer. That takes around 45 minutes. Nothing wrong yet.
I keep the key in the accesory position when i wash my car to listen to the cd player. That takes a little more than an hour.
So no, I don't think it will hurt the ECU or anything. THe only thing I see it hurting would be draining the battery. Just make sure you start it up after a while to 'recharge' the battery.
I keep the key in the accesory position when i wash my car to listen to the cd player. That takes a little more than an hour.
So no, I don't think it will hurt the ECU or anything. THe only thing I see it hurting would be draining the battery. Just make sure you start it up after a while to 'recharge' the battery.
I thought it would damage the coils or something, but your cases proves your point.
09-19-2006, 11:53 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 126
Originally Posted by matts95max
haha weren't you the guy that posted that thread about driving over 3k rpms kills your car!?!?!? 
09-19-2006, 12:59 PM
#40
I wonder what poll he's going to post next... Lets see, we've had, 'does accelrating at 3000rpm harm your engine' and this thread here... I forsee:
1)Does putting your car in reverse for more than 2 seconds kill your transmission?
2)I've recently been forced to slow the car down rather quickly, so I've started using the brake pedal instead of just turning the car off and opening the windows for extra drag until the car coasts to a stop. Is this bad for my brakepads?
and finally..
3) Does my posting of these great polls demonstrate my hightened level of intelligence and car know-how?
Just messin with ya Thorby
but seriously... come on... are you for real?
1)Does putting your car in reverse for more than 2 seconds kill your transmission?
2)I've recently been forced to slow the car down rather quickly, so I've started using the brake pedal instead of just turning the car off and opening the windows for extra drag until the car coasts to a stop. Is this bad for my brakepads?
and finally..
3) Does my posting of these great polls demonstrate my hightened level of intelligence and car know-how?
Just messin with ya Thorby
but seriously... come on... are you for real?