Use this Cessna 152 start checklist for any flight simulator, with cold, warm and flooded starts plus fixes when the engine will not fire.
To start a Cessna 152 in a flight simulator, set the parking brake, fuel valve ON, carburettor heat cold, mixture rich and throttle slightly open. Prime a cold engine as required, switch the master on, hold the ignition at START, release it when the engine fires, then stabilise near 1,000 RPM.
This general procedure applies in Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, FSX and Prepar3D, but the aircraft model’s checklist takes precedence. Primer operation, engine flooding and electrical failures are not simulated equally in every C152.
Cessna 152 cold-start checklist
For a cold-and-dark Cessna 152, prepare the fuel, induction and electrical systems before engaging the starter.
- Secure the aircraft. Set the parking brake and switch off avionics and other unnecessary electrical equipment.
- Open the fuel shut-off valve. Move it fully to ON according to the cockpit label. A standard C152 has a gravity-fed fuel system and shut-off valve rather than a LEFT/RIGHT/BOTH fuel selector.
- Set carburettor heat to COLD. The control should be pushed fully in for starting.
- Set mixture and throttle. Push the mixture to full rich and crack the throttle slightly open.
- Prime a cold engine. Use the number of strokes specified by the aircraft checklist; a cold engine commonly needs a few, while a warm engine usually needs none. Push the primer fully home and lock it afterwards.
- Switch on the electrics. Set the master switch ON, including both sides of a split battery-and-alternator switch where modelled, then turn on the beacon.
- Engage the starter. Check that the propeller area is clear, hold the ignition switch at START and release it as soon as the engine fires. It should spring back to BOTH.
- Stabilise the engine. Adjust the throttle to roughly 1,000 RPM and confirm that oil pressure begins rising. Do not keep the starter engaged after the engine catches.
The standard C152 has a fixed-pitch propeller, so there is no propeller control to set, and it normally has no electric boost pump. For control locations in the default aircraft, our detailed MSFS 2020 cold-and-dark C152 procedure walks through the cockpit from the unpowered state.
Why does the Cessna 152 crank but not start?
A Cessna 152 that cranks without starting is usually missing fuel, mixture, priming or a valid ignition input.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Propeller does not turn | Master off, depleted battery or starter control not operating | Confirm electrical power, ignition position and the starter binding. |
| Propeller turns but there is no firing | Fuel valve closed, mixture at idle cut-off, empty tanks or insufficient cold priming | Verify fuel quantity, valve position, mixture and primer use. |
| Engine fires and immediately stops | Throttle closed, mixture axis pulled back or fuel supply interrupted | Crack the throttle and watch whether hardware axes move the cockpit controls. |
| Engine will not start after repeated priming | Flooded engine | Stop adding primer and use the flooded-start procedure below. |
| Engine starts but runs roughly | Primer unlocked, carburettor heat hot or conflicting controller inputs | Lock the primer, select carburettor heat cold and clear duplicate bindings. |
A mistake we see constantly is a mouse-set mixture or throttle lever snapping back because a joystick, throttle quadrant or gamepad is also assigned to that axis. Remove the duplicate assignment or disconnect the conflicting controller. If the fault extends beyond the C152, our MSFS engine-start and shutdown diagnosis covers fuel, ignition, electrical power and binding problems in more depth.
How is a warm or flooded start different?
A warm C152 usually needs no primer, while a flooded engine needs extra airflow and a temporarily lean mixture.
- Warm start: Leave the primer alone, set mixture rich, crack the throttle and start normally.
- Flooded start: Set mixture to idle cut-off and open the throttle fully, then crank the engine. As it fires, advance the mixture to rich and promptly reduce the throttle.
Do not crank continuously through repeated failed attempts. Release the starter, pause and correct the cause; some simplified simulator aircraft do not model flooding or starter overheating accurately.
What should I check after the engine starts?
After starting, confirm ignition, lubrication and charging before switching on the avionics or beginning to taxi.
- Ignition switch has returned to BOTH and the starter has disengaged.
- Engine speed is stable near 1,000 RPM.
- Oil pressure rises into the indicated operating range; shut down if it remains at zero.
- The charging indication is normal and any low-voltage warning clears.
- Avionics are switched on only after the electrical system is stable.
- The mixture is leaned for prolonged ground running only when the aircraft checklist recommends it.