Is it bad if I cranked my engine after car is already on?

Question

I didn't realize my car was on (lol I know it's weird). But I tried to crank it thinking it was off. It made a odd sound and I thought it had a starting problem. After I realized that the car was on it went on my way. I want to know if that cranking could have cause any damage. I cranked it about 5 times before realizing I left it on.

Answer 1

It could be a problem. I dunno if this relates but my uncle tried to shift the car into 4WD and it busted the engine. I recommend that you go check the engine at dealer, or gas station, just to make sure.

Answer 2

You can possibly chip the gears on the starter or the flywheel. You'll know if one day you try to start your car, and all you hear is a loud whirring sound. That means there's a broken tooth on the flywheel and the starter is unable to engage.

That's a very costly repair !!

Answer 3

If it starts ok now without making any noise don't worry about it.

Unless it makes noise in the future it should be okay.

Answer 4

It's not good for the starter and flywheel.  Without removing the starter and checking for broken or chipped gear teeth on the starter and flywheel though, there is no way to assess any possible damage.  If, in the future, you find that the starter just spins without engaging the engine, you will know that one of the two is damaged and will need to be replaced.

Answer 5

Cranked it 5 times?  Yikes.

Did you damage it?  Yeah.  But not much, and definitely not so much you need to drag it to the shop.  Just don't do that anymore.  You'll break the starter before you do seriously bad damage to the flywheel, and starters are fairly easy to replace, but still - knock it off.

Does your gauge have a tachometer?  Check that FIRST if you aren't sure the engine's running.

Answer 6

you will cause serious damage to your flywheel, if you break the teeth off the flywheel you wont be able to start your car anymore unless you have the transmission dropped and the flywheel replaced, alot of work and $$$$$ if you had a mechanic do it..... but dont do that anymore that noise is a bad noise!!  lol        lesson learned right........bad noise is not good

Answer 7

I've done that before because I was in McD's drive through and usually I turn my car off, but this time I didnt. I thought it was off cuz it was so quiet, but see i only cranked it once. You cranked it 5 times! You need to go have the engine checked out.

Answer 8

Is that possible? but you could cause damage. If you didn't this time just try not to do it again

Answer 9

yes, dont do that, you break the teeth off the gears