An ecu-controlled starter myth.

[Township Rebellion]

So; a guy came through work today. He had a brand new Ford, I believe an F250 though I didn't see the badging; it was the extended cab diesel version however. To cut a long story short, he claimed that one must not hold the key when turning the engine over; because holding the key while the engine is turning/running will cause complete failure of the ignition system. Something along these lines. He basically said we should give it one click over or his $80,000 truck will break.

To clarify; the ignition in his truck is much the same as many modern systems, the starter is controlled by the cars' computer, when you twist the key it doesn't directly engage the starter like most earlier conventional ignition types; the ECU recieves the command, then engages the starter, then releases it immediately once the engine is running. Presumably, this makes starting your car idiot proof because the computer takes care of everything, and you cannot damage the starter or electrical system by accidentally (or otherwise) twisting the key while the car is running.

I didn't really talk to him directly about this, but supposedly that is the claim he made. I think he's either completely full of shit or Ford has billions of dollars worth of lawsuits coming in. Google seems to agree with me, modern systems seem to be designed not to be able to fail like that, but I figured maybe I'd see if anyone else at all has heard of this. Fact? Fiction? Do I care way too much? Maybe, I just felt like sharing.

[Motherfucking_Toast]

I've yet to drive a new diesel f-series, but I believe you are correct. The ECU simply will not allow the starter to engage if it registers the vehicle is running. If you turn the key to start when your driving on the highway, nothing will happen. Same thing happens when your starting a car; once the car has started, you could hold the key to the start as long as you want.
On older vehicles, needless to say, this does not hold true.

[MediumD]

Ok, so you met a dumbass with a truck. I'm sure it wasn't the first time, it won't be the last.

[Issue313]

The thing about that sort of belief is that if you twist the key with the engine running to show him he's wrong, if anything breaks in the truck in the next 6 months, you'll be blamed. Maybe he'll decide it isn't running as well as before. Stupid people are called stupid for a reason. You gotta just smile and nod.

[HampTheToker]

Originally Posted by Issue313

The thing about that sort of belief is that if you twist the key with the engine running to show him he's wrong, if anything breaks in the truck in the next 6 months, you'll be blamed. Maybe he'll decide it isn't running as well as before. Stupid people are called stupid for a reason. You gotta just smile and nod.

Still would have explained it to him like a 10 year old. Being a smartass can be an effective and subtle way of calling someone an idiot. Especially, if it's a long drawn out explanation.

"Excuse me, sir, but you're a dumbass. And, here's why..."

[CountBlah]

[Optionryder420]

You have way too much time on your hands to be posting shit like this.

I guess I do as well to be posting this, but I'm at work, so I'm getting paid for this.

[Township Rebellion]

Time? It didn't take that long to knock that post out, I'm a fast typer.

Anyway, I know he's an idiot. I didn't argue with him, he actually was telling my coworker how to start it. We were guffawing about it after he went inside, but he heard us and got mad and left. The situation was pretty lol. I do meet alot of stupid people at work, it's amazing how dumb the general public can be.

[Cooldarkknick]

You would be correct, OP. Even my 07 has an ecu controlled starter. It will automatically disengage once the motor is running, and if i turn it back to start while idling/driving it will merely cycle the gauges.

It has hung once or twice, but its pretty rare. As in, the starter will stay engaged after startup if i continue to hold the key on start.