Narrative:

Pushback from gate; I elected to motor both engines to cool them down to 200 degrees prior to raising start lever. Number two engine start was normal. During number one engine start the engine overheat light illuminated. We aborted the engine start and got into the QRH. The overheat checklist ultimately takes you to the engine fire; failure; severe damage; separation checklist. We wound up pulling the fire handle; advising the ground crew and asked if they saw any smoke; fire or abnormalities. Shortly after that; the engine overheat light went out. We also informed maintenance of our problem and actions and they advised us not to discharge the fire bottle. The confusion lies in what checklist to go to first; the aborted engine start or engine overheat checklist. Not knowing why we had the overheat light; we elected to return to the gate and have maintenance investigate the problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737NG flight crew was uncertain of the appropriate checklist in response to an engine overheat light received during engine start.

Narrative: Pushback from gate; I elected to motor both engines to cool them down to 200 degrees prior to raising start lever. Number two engine start was normal. During number one engine start the Engine Overheat light illuminated. We aborted the engine start and got into the QRH. The Overheat checklist ultimately takes you to the Engine Fire; Failure; Severe Damage; Separation checklist. We wound up pulling the fire handle; advising the Ground Crew and asked if they saw any smoke; fire or abnormalities. Shortly after that; the Engine Overheat light went out. We also informed Maintenance of our problem and actions and they advised us not to discharge the fire bottle. The confusion lies in what checklist to go to first; the Aborted Engine Start or Engine Overheat checklist. Not knowing why we had the Overheat light; we elected to return to the gate and have Maintenance investigate the problem.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.