Above kind of says it. Free Flight - C172 - I'm sitting on the runway and I can't turn the key to start the engine.

Any help?

Works for me. Sounds like its assigned to a joystick button. I had to clear it from my bravo throttle so I could use the mouse.

I bet none of the other controls are clickable either. It's a bug. Restarting the flight usually clears it and lets you click stuff again, but it can come back. I've found it doesn't tend to show up once you're in the air, so if it keeps happening, try expediting the takeoff.

 

2 hours ago, Rob G said:

I'm sitting on the runway and I can't turn the key to start the engine.

If you spawned on the runway then the engine should be already running. In any case you can either click and drag the key to the right to turn the key one notch, or you can mouse wheel over the key to turn it all the way to ignition.

Or you could try Flight Interface/Cockpit Camera/Cockpit Interaction system and set to Legacy

9 hours ago, Adamski_NZ said:

Or you could try Flight Interface/Cockpit Camera/Cockpit Interaction system and set to Legacy

I did that to get rid of the glowy blue switch highlights, and I still get the bug.

 

4 hours ago, eslader said:

I did that to get rid of the glowy blue switch highlights, and I still get the bug.

Well ... to be honest ... I'm finding cold & dark (and/or restarts) totally bugged on most aircraft in 2024. When manual startup fails, even the CRL-E cheat doesn't always work. It's as if some systems aren't getting electrical power or fuel, despite what the instruments/switches are showing.

Works fine for me. No problem starting cold and dark. I use 172 in career mode all the time. Master on, fuel selector both, mixture rich, ignition start..

Are you sure you're not trying to use the key for the baggage door? Sorry, I couldn't resist as someone who's done it a few times IRL. 😁

2 hours ago, Adamski_NZ said:

Well ... to be honest ... I'm finding cold & dark (and/or restarts) totally bugged on most aircraft in 2024. When manual startup fails, even the CRL-E cheat doesn't always work. It's as if some systems aren't getting electrical power or fuel, despite what the instruments/switches are showing.

That's interesting. The switch-click fail bug felt like an invisible collision wall was rezzing in front of the instrument panel to me. When the switches are clickable (which is probably 85-90% of the time) I never have trouble getting the engine started. I bet you've got a separate bug you're dealing with.

 

19 hours ago, Rob G said:

Above kind of says it. Free Flight - C172 - I'm sitting on the runway and I can't turn the key to start the engine.

Any help?

How are you trying to start?  Mouse? or Yoke/device?  If mouse you may need to go to controls settings and clear any related settings for devices.  I use a Honeycomb Alpha yoke.  It has a rotary switch.  Because of twin engine aircraft I use my mouse and start from the aircrafts panel. I also was not able to do so until I went into the default MSFS control settings for the HC Alpha and cleared out any settings for that rotary switch.  Now I can use the mouse.

Edited December 6, 20241 yr by fppilot

The more I play the more plane bugs and issues I find. Pretty sad state of affairs.

I'm surprised no one has asked if you're using the analog steam gauge 172 or the G1000. On my system (and many others) the steam gauge analog 172 does not work - You cannot manipulate lights, engine, or cockpit controls.

It sounds like you have this same issue. Switch to the G1000.

2 hours ago, WestAir said:

I'm surprised no one has asked if you're using the analog steam gauge 172 or the G1000. On my system (and many others) the steam gauge analog 172 does not work - You cannot manipulate lights, engine, or cockpit controls.

It sounds like you have this same issue. Switch to the G1000.

Happens on the G1000 too.

 

4 hours ago, eslader said:

Happens on the G1000 too.

 

I can guess that some of your control is auto assigned by MSFS. For example it could be  mixture, or fuel shut off which couldn't prevent you from starting engine. It happened to me in the beginning. I have Honeycomb Bravo, Charlie and TM Airbus stick. After configuring Bravo and Charlie I had all kind of problems until I discovered multiple conflicts with airbus stick ( twist, wheel , and etc. I had basically clear assignment from TM stick add what I want one by one .

I've been flying 172 a lot in career sometimes several time in the row I do not have any problem. Just have make sure to prefly airplane and remove cowling plugs, pito cover and etc! I can't just be so lucky while you guys struggle to start. There must be a reason within your hardware?