Will Insurance Cover a Second Attempt to Start the Engine?

[AylaFitz]

In general, insurance companies will refuse to cover damages resulting from a second attempt to start the engine. Here is some relevant information: 1. Reason: This is because knowingly starting the engine after the vehicle has been submerged in water is considered a clear mistake. It is recommended to carefully read the terms of the purchased water damage insurance to understand the specific provisions. Car owners should immediately report the incident to the insurance company, explain the situation, and if necessary, the insurance company's loss assessor will visit the scene to inspect and provide advice. 2. Note: If the car stalls in water, the owner should quickly seek help to push the car to a dry area nearby. Do not stay in the car waiting for rescue, as rising water levels can flood the entire engine compartment, causing severe damage to the vehicle's electronic components.

[LeHailey]

I remember a few years ago when I accidentally turned the ignition key while the car was already running, and the starter motor immediately made a loud cracking sound and was ruined. After towing it to the repair shop, the mechanic took it apart and said the flywheel ring gear was completely worn out. Replacing the set of parts cost me several thousand yuan. At the time, I thought insurance would cover it, but when I filed a claim, the insurance company checked the vehicle's data logs and determined it was my operational error, falling under the exclusion clause, so they denied the claim. They explained that standard auto damage insurance only covers accidents and natural disasters, and human errors like this kind of double-starting are generally not included unless you've purchased additional mechanical coverage under the vehicle loss insurance. Since then, I've developed a habit: I watch the tachometer when starting the car and release the key as soon as the engine turns over. I also check my policy details every six months to avoid repeating mistakes and paying out of pocket again. Small details in driving can easily lead to costly mistakes, so everyone should pay more attention to the little things.

[Branden]

Double ignition refers to the unnecessary action of trying to start the car again when it's already running. This redundant operation is most likely to damage the starter gear. I made this stupid mistake during my novice period—shortly after hitting the road, I burned out the starter due to repeated ignition attempts. When I sent it for warranty repair, the insurance checked and deemed it improper operation, falling outside the coverage, so I got nothing. Regular insurance only covers accidental collisions or natural disasters; issues caused by personal mistakes are generally not included unless you've purchased comprehensive coverage or have special clauses. My advice: always listen for the engine sound before starting—if it's running, don't touch the key. Also, check your policy documents to see if they cover human errors. This way, if something does happen, you'll have some buffer. Starter repairs aren't cheap, so prevention is always better than dealing with headaches later.

[Blake]

Secondary ignition refers to the repeated starting of the engine while it is already running, which forces the starter to engage with the rotating flywheel, potentially causing gear wear or motor burnout. In insurance claims, such damage is typically classified as human operational error rather than an accidental event, and most standard auto damage insurance policies deny coverage. Consumers should check their policies to see if mechanical failure add-on coverage is included for potential compensation. In practice, unnecessary ignition attempts should be avoided, and operations should be performed correctly in one go to prevent losses.