Ignition question

[Typicalmale1978]

Hi all,
I have a 2017 Fiesta S with the 1.6 non turbo and a manual transmission. My question is if the car is ever killed in gear then the key must be cycled completely off before it will allow a restart. The ignition is locked from the restart position until it is turned completely off first. Is this normal? My 16 year old is doing great learning this car as a first ride, but I had never experienced a car prior that had this concern. Thank you for any help.

 

[Handy Andy]

Yes, to prevent an accidental grinding of the starter gear to a moving flywheel, that is the reason for the "lockout" as it was described to me from a Dealer.

Now, if your son can, when you encounter a stall - just leave the key alone and pop the clutch in a lower gear to restart the engine while it's still moving - it works and it's done in some newer cars, this process is repeated often on long coasting modes like down hills when you let off the throttle - the engine dies and the transmission turns the engine - but uses it as an engine brake when the condition is possible to be done. So it will "lock up" the torque converter and let the engine brake but it is running lean as in no fuel.

To make him more comfortable with this survival maneuver - have him try this on hills outside of busy traffic so he can get used to how the car will still operate and this will offer some steering control.

Just have him bring the car up to speed - then release the throttle on the down hill side and then turn off the motor using the key to ACC position - the engine brake will become more pronounced and then he can experience power failure - but lets him still have some control over the steering and brakes - then press in the clutch - turn the key to on not start - he will feel the engine braking is gone and the car will start rolling faster - then he can determine by speed on the speedometer - which gear he can pop the clutch in to regain the motor from the self-induced stall and recover.

It might take some tries but this maneuver will help in his learning how to recover from certain power failure conditions better than any car with an automatic can.