well, if this is the only thing that we have to remember in order to have it working as we need, we can live with it. is sort of the routine that we must follow.
so seems like good news after all. thank you for telling us.
keep working on it. we hope you will solve all the other details.

the instructions could be something like:
to start the car:
1- fit the key into the slot;
2-turn it to the right until it reaches the 2nd position (lights go on);
3-wait 3 seconds;
4-turn the key to the right until the engine starts;
5-release the key.
(of course, if you fix the arduino to not to need this, still would be better)