At which position should the key be turned to turn off the engine?
2 Answers
The key should be turned to the OFF position to turn off the engine. The correct steps for parking and turning off an automatic transmission vehicle are: 1. Press the brake pedal to ensure the vehicle is stationary, then shift the gear to N (Neutral); 2. Engage the handbrake; 3. Shift to P (Park), then release the brake; 4. Turn off any unnecessary electrical devices in the vehicle; 5. Check that the gear is in P (Park), all non-essential electrical devices are turned off, and the steering wheel is straightened; 6. Turn the key counterclockwise to the end, or press the one-touch start switch once to set the ignition switch to the OFF position. Reasons for the engine stalling include: 1. A stuck or faulty fuel pump; 2. Faulty spark plugs or ignition coils.
After driving for over 20 years, my experience tells me that the key must be turned back to the ACC or LOCK position to truly shut off the engine. When starting, turn the key to START and release it to the ON position to run the engine. To turn off the engine, rotate the key counterclockwise back to ACC or the lock position. ACC is the accessory position, where the engine is off but electrical devices can still be used; LOCK is where you can completely power off and remove the key. The key point is not to turn the key while driving, as sudden engine shutdown can be extremely dangerous. After parking, always shift to P (Park) or, for manual transmissions, neutral and depress the clutch before turning the key to shut off the engine to prevent the key from getting stuck. If the key won't turn, the steering wheel might be locked—just gently wiggle the steering wheel to unlock it. Different car models may have slight variations; for example, older models are more sensitive and may shut off directly at ACC, while newer models might require a few more turns. Safety first—developing these habits is essential!
