Ok folks.. need your help. My sons 91 RS is missing the clutch start switch completely. When I crawl under there, there is a hole similar to the brake light switch (that round style that protrudes through the hole) This is the switch the parts store tried to give me but it doesnt seemto fit anywhere...

 

thats not it thet css will bolt to the pedal mount with a 7mm bolt and have a plastic rod that will attach to the clutch pedal

 

well I have a plug under the dash that fits into the above switch, when the plug is disonnected I have to use a jumper wire for the car to start. What is this switch for and is there a picture anywhere of what the clutch safety switch looks like?

 

there are two switches for the clutch sometimes... one for cruise control and one for starting the car. The one in the picture mounts closer to the floor/firewall on the pedal bracket for starting the car. the other one is like the brake light switch to turn off cruise control if you push the clutch.

 

Why not simply leave the switch out and permanently jumper the harness terminals there? Or replace the switch with a removable jumpered plug that can be used as a mild form of anti-theft protection?


Two of my cars no longer have this "feature". The switch in the '79 Malibu died in a clutch linkage failure incident, and the one in the '08 Mustang GT finally pi$$ed me off for the last time (way too sensitive to clutch pedal position and would shut off the starter if I so much as "breathed" a fraction of an inch off the clutch pedal). Having the ability to bump the car along on the starter is a rare but useful benefit. I have no intention of ever restoring their function.


Norm

 

The reason Id like to put this back is my 16 y/o son will be driving... kids are easily distracted, i dont need to repair the front end damage

 

I hear your concerns. Been there.

I guess I'm old enough (it's in my profile) and cranky enough to disagree about teaching methods - ultimately what this is about - that send the wrong message in order to accomplish a goal that in itself is desirable.

Clutch interlocks only teach you to stomp your left foot on the leftmost pedal in order to start the car. Not WHY you should be doing so. If asked, an answer of "Because I need to do this in order to start the car" means that the student driver does not understand either the mechanicals or what's at stake.


I still remember a little object lesson from my Dad about why you need to declutch when starting (I was maybe 8 years old at the time). That's all I ever needed; being "officially" told somewhat later when I was starting to "practice drive" was little more than being given a reminder.



Norm