Switch Off Aircon and Media Player before Turning Off Engine

[Soya]

when I was a new driver and younger, I have many many "driving rituals" too..

 

i.e. step on clutch before cranking, wait for check engine light to go off before cranking, make sure everthing is power down before the next cranking, install turbo timer for turbo car etc.

 

now I still practice some old habits, I start the engine first before I adjust the memory seat to my setting and yell at my wife for not doing so.

Wah sei....long time neber hear ppl mention turbo timer.

 

Brings back memories of cassette tape, aiwa mini compo, Brother Beyond, etc.....LOL

[Atrecord]

Haha, do we know one another? :) I've been practising exactly what you described your first friend did since my first car, and that's what Honda had recommended too:

 

http://www.autoindustriya.com/auto-industry-news/hondas-tips-on-proper-use-of-car-aircon.html

 

Furthermore this helps to conserve energy, as even after the aircon has been switched off with the fan remaining on, cool air will continue to be blown for a period of time that is usually sufficient for one to have parked his or her car.

 

I'm also worried that the CD may be jammed in the CD player if the player is not switched off properly before cutting off the power supply. 

 

Lastly, switching off the aircon, fan and audio before switching off the engine will help to avoid excessive drawing of current when the engine is being restarted. However little the help may be, it does not inconvenient me by doing so anyway and has become my driving habit, while I've not found any switch being spoiled as a result.

 

Interestingly, I found that there is only mute but not off button for the audio system in my wife's new car, so maybe switching off the radio or CD player does not matter ;)

 

I also read decades ago that it'll help to prolong the life of the, i think, battery (or was it the aircon), if we switch off the aircon before cutting engine. 

 

And i've been doing that religiously.

 

Then only maybe 2-3 mth ago, read in Sat's ST Life/motoring section got those letters written in on this exact topic, and the reply was that vehicle technology has improved a lot from about 10-15 yr ago, and that it is no longer necessary to do so.

 

I've been trying to search for that article, but couldn't find it.

 

What car is your wife driving? I also thought for ~3 wk since collecting my car that the headunit radio can only mute but not off. Two days ago, called up manufacturer, and learnt that it can be off. But only the technician knows, even the second person (the first was recept) i spoke to, who explained to me the different icons and the instruction manual, etc., didn't know...

[Adrianli]

My previous previous previous car, built in 1989, I used to off everything before switch off ignition.

 

 

But current car, I dont off anything. Just let the car shutdown everything by itself. In fact, when I switch off the car engine, the radio is still playing until I open the door then it auto turn off. The headlights also leave it at auto, so even when I off the engine and leave the car, the headlights and DRL is still on. After 30secs or so, then it auto off. Quite a few times, bystander tell me I forgot to off my car's headlights as I walk off. I just tell them its auto.

 

And the current car battery last pretty long now. Almost 3 years liao and still going strong. SA help me test the battery and say still going strong. He say normally its lifespan is 3-4 years for my car. Ask me not to worry, as I used to replace my car battery every two years.

[Kangadrool]

For safety sake (yourself, mechanic, washing gang....), you should always switch the auto wiper function OFF.

 

The wiper can trigger even in dry condition.

 

What about auto headlight and auto wiper? Do we just left it auto or better to switch off before turn off engine? Ty

 

[Soya]

In modern cars, the ECU pretty much controls everything.

[Kangadrool]

That's the problem. You may end up in ICU if depend too much on ECU. Those things do go haywire including those in much fool-proofed applications on aircraft.

 

 

[Adrianli]

That's the problem. You may end up in ICU if depend too much on ECU. Those things do go haywire including those in much fool-proofed applications on aircraft.

 

You still go to the bank counter to withdraw cash or you use an ATM to withdraw cash?

 

 

My mother never trust an ATM and she goes to the bank counter to withdraw cash.

[Soya]

That's the problem. You may end up in ICU if depend too much on ECU. Those things do go haywire including those in much fool-proofed applications on aircraft.

I would like to think automotive engineers after studying so many years n employed in a big car company are not so goondu until they dunno how to programme a simple voltage regulator for a simple headlight, a/c, wiper or stereo......

[Kangadrool]

I use internet banging, but hip beedeo as evidence just in case.

You still go to the bank counter to withdraw cash or you use an ATM to withdraw cash?

 

 

My mother never trust an ATM and she goes to the bank counter to withdraw cash.

 

electronics/electrical things are strange things. Sometimes, they appeared to be possessed catching people by surprise.

 

So do yourself some risk assessment. Of course, some auto functions you can still rely on them without harm even if they go bersak, but some functions may inflict harm/danger if the ECU woke up from the wrong side of the bed that day.

 

For the auto wiper thingy, I did experience it self activated for no reason under shelter park, dry condition. Now, I try to remember to keep it in OFF position after use.

 

I would like to think automotive engineers after studying so many years n employed in a big car company are not so goondu until they dunno how to programme a simple voltage regulator for a simple headlight, a/c, wiper or stereo......

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by Kangadrool

[kykh]

I also read decades ago that it'll help to prolong the life of the, i think, battery (or was it the aircon), if we switch off the aircon before cutting engine. 

 

And i've been doing that religiously.

 

Then only maybe 2-3 mth ago, read in Sat's ST Life/motoring section got those letters written in on this exact topic, and the reply was that vehicle technology has improved a lot from about 10-15 yr ago, and that it is no longer necessary to do so.

 

I've been trying to search for that article, but couldn't find it.

 

What car is your wife driving? I also thought for ~3 wk since collecting my car that the headunit radio can only mute but not off. Two days ago, called up manufacturer, and learnt that it can be off. But only the technician knows, even the second person (the first was recept) i spoke to, who explained to me the different icons and the instruction manual, etc., didn't know...

It's Mazda 6 2017 model.

 

I could not find any off button for the audio, neither did the manual say about it. Long press on the mute button does not turn off audio either. Nevertheless, I found a way from Mazda forum to switch off the audio by leaving a spare mobile phone headset plugged into the auxiliary port and selecting the auxiliary port whenever we want to turn off audio. I'll consult the service executive whether there is a proper way to turn off audio when I send the car for 5K servicing in 2 weeks :)

[Atrecord]

It's Mazda 6 2017 model.

 

I could not find any off button for the audio, neither did the manual say about it. Long press on the mute button does not turn off audio either. Nevertheless, I found a way from Mazda forum to switch off the audio by leaving a spare mobile phone headset plugged into the auxiliary port and selecting the auxiliary port whenever we want to turn off audio. I'll consult the service executive whether there is a proper way to turn off audio when I send the car for 5K servicing in 2 weeks :)

 

Ok, not same car. But if the headunit was manufactured by Elegant auto accessories, then good chance can apply too:

 

just go to main menu, select AUX, no need mobile phone or any equipment connected. The radio will turn off once switched to Aux. Otherwise, the radio can only mute and not off, and if i try Navi, can hear the directions fighting with the songs - dunno listen to who good...

[Vratenza]

 

[Kangadrool]

depends on what they are checking...

 

checking the check boxes?

checking if the buttons still exist?

checking if the parts/organisms still exist?

checking if they are still functioning?

 

Lastly, must ownself check ownself also. Some are drunks, hallucinates.... but still fly.

 

 

 

[Atonchia]

 

That was what I thought so too.

 

Not just controls and switches.

Also need to ensure the correct circuit breakers are "in" all depressed before turning any switches.

 

Then after all switches off, followed by disengaging CBs.

[Squeaky]

I had my previous ride for 8plus years. Never switch off anything before I stop engine. Aircon and radio all on. Lights on auto mode. Didn't have any issues. Battery changed once every 2-3 years? Nothing intrusive.

 

At home what do ppl do? Do they off the socket switch of the things like TV and aircon or do they use the remote control first? Same for your PC/laptop?

 

So what do you think? For cars, no need to care?

 

Think before you comment. Don't just blurt out what others might say. Ask yourself what is the purpose of a on/off switch then?

I only use my remotes to switch off the tv and aircon. I don't even know where my aircon main socket is! lol

Edited May 17, 2017 by Squeaky

[Buadongdong]

I have a friend who switches off the aircon and lets it run in fan mode as he enters the car park to park. Reason he gave is that it would allow the condensate at the aircon to evaporate faster cos when the car is not moving and there is a lot of water around the aircon bacteria can grow and you start breathing it when you next on the aircon.

 

But I don't share his view but that's his logic.

 

Another friend will switch off the stereo system before he switches off the engine but that is because he is playing a cd on it and he is quite anal of it being ejected "properly" rather than switching it off while it is still playing. So not sure if this point answers your question cos he is not switching off the radio but rather the CD player. He claims it will prolong life of the CD. I also don't agree but I am the kind who can just pull out USB without clicking the eject button or switching off a laptop with USB still inside the laptop then yanking it out. So not too sure if he is right in the sense of prolonging the lifespan of cd by ejecting it properly.

I kinda agree with your friend's views though.. Especially the Aircon thingy..

[mersaylee]

What I dislike most of the Beemer I have is I need to lift one lever stalk then press a tab on the same stalk to put gear in park then press a button to engage parking brakes then press another button to turn off the engine then press on the car key to spring eject it.

 

What a turn-off after half a century of actions...

[Adrianli]

I kinda agree with your friend's views though.. Especially the Aircon thingy..

 

Dont think he will do that for his home aircon too.