Will the starter work when the ignition switch is turned to the ACC position?
2 Answers
No. The starter does not work in the ACC position. The meanings of the ignition switch positions are as follows: LOCK: Locks the steering wheel and cuts off the power supply, while the ACC accessory power is turned on; ON: All vehicle power supplies except the starter are turned on; START: The starter power is turned on and the engine starts. (After releasing the key post-start, it automatically returns to the ON position.) Below is relevant information about ACC: 1. Introduction: The full English name of ACC is "Adaptive-Cruise-Control," which means "adaptive cruise control" in Chinese. The adaptive cruise control system is an intelligent automatic control system developed based on the existing cruise control technology. 2. Principle: During vehicle operation, the distance sensor (radar) installed at the front of the vehicle continuously scans the road ahead, while the wheel speed sensor collects speed signals. When the distance to the vehicle ahead becomes too small, the ACC control unit can coordinate with the anti-lock braking system and engine control system to apply appropriate braking to the wheels and reduce the engine's output power, ensuring the vehicle maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
I've been driving for over a decade and I'm very familiar with this: The car key has several positions when starting the ignition, such as LOCK for locking the car, ACC for accessory mode where you can use the radio and other features, ON for ignition preparation, and START which actually starts the engine. When you only turn the key to the ACC position, the current only powers electrical devices like the audio system, while the starter motor doesn't receive any power and won't operate. This is because the starter motor requires a large current to drive the engine, and only turning the key to START can trigger that circuit. Some beginners might make mistakes, turning to ACC and thinking there's a problem when the car doesn't respond, but this is actually normal. The key point is not to confuse the positions; starting the car requires turning the key all the way to START in one go, otherwise you'll have to start over. Regularly checking the smoothness of the key switch can also help prevent issues.
