Hesitation at Start up

[The Lox]

So every now and then I will get in the car, press the clutch and turn the key and nothing will happen. Then the car will start. I don't know if maybe I am not pressing the clutch in far enough or what, but the car does start every time. It just seems a little wierd. I do not have an anti-theft on this car, so I wouldn't think its a problem with that. Anyways, this ever happen to anyone else??

[joatmon]

When that has happened to me, it was because I didn't have the clutch pedal pressed enough. Happens a lot less since I taped an extra spacer on the back of the clutch pedal arm, before I had to really mash the pedal.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »When that has happened to me, it was because I didn't have the clutch pedal pressed enough. Happens a lot less since I taped an extra spacer on the back of the clutch pedal arm, before I had to really mash the pedal. Is there a way to adjust the switch more or less so you do not need the spacer?

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »Is there a way to adjust the switch more or less so you do not need the spacer? Not really. The switch is mounted in a way that it can't be adjusted, it is in a fixed position relative to the floor. I suppose there might be a way to shim under the switch, or fab a new bracket for the switch. There is a metal flap on the back of the pedal arm that contacts the switch, and a person might be able to bend that some, but for me it was just easier to tape something on the back of that flap where it contacts the switch. I started with two quarters, but now have a small rubber foot that came off some piece of equipment I was throwing away. There are several other threads on it here somewhere. People who have installed thicker floor mats have a tough time with the factory setup, and some of us who haven't have also had to really stand on the pedal to get it start.

[harryyiii]

Kill the lawyers over this stupid safety feature. You practically have to put the clutch pedal through the firewall to get the car to start. What a PITA. They have made it impossible to jump start a car. I once had a car that had a clutch cable break. I was able to drive the car home by starting and stopping at every light, keeping the car in gear. No more.

[The Lox]

This was a feature on my old ford focus, my dad acciently broke the switch off when we were working on the car, and so he just wired the two wires together. I never had to press the clutch to start again. Maybe this would work the same way? I am sure all that flip switch does is complete a circut... thoughts???

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by harryyiii »Kill the lawyers over this stupid safety feature. You practically have to put the clutch pedal through the firewall to get the car to start. What a PITA. They have made it impossible to jump start a car. I once had a car that had a clutch cable break. I was able to drive the car home by starting and stopping at every light, keeping the car in gear. No more. If the cable broke, you could still step on the pedal to close the switch. I don't see how the clutch to start switch affects jump starting the car.Quote, originally posted by The Lox »This was a feature on my old ford focus, my dad acciently broke the switch off when we were working on the car, and so he just wired the two wires together. I never had to press the clutch to start again. Maybe this would work the same way? I am sure all that flip switch does is complete a circut... thoughts???that's pretty much what mase did in http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=25521

[prathman]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »If the cable broke, you could still step on the pedal to close the switch. I don't see how the clutch to start switch affects jump starting the car.Agreed, but I did have a situation once in our '75 Rabbit where I was glad it didn't have such an interlock. Ran out of gas in a rather busy intersection and was able to get across the street and into a gas station by putting the car in gear and using the starter motor to move it. Much safer than being stuck in the intersection or getting out and pushing the car.