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Car Starts in Gear

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Old 05-28-10, 11:43 PM
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Question Car Starts in Gear

Hey guys and gals,


Alright so I have been going over this car of mine fixing this and that. I tried starting the car while in gear and she tries to start! So first thing I check is the clutch switch (interlock switch) and it specs out. The only other switch I can think of is the neutral safety starter switch. I will be testing this over the weekend. If that specs out I guess trace the wiring back, does anyone know what computer or relay takes care of the interlock system? Anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks all
Mike
Old 05-29-10, 10:39 AM
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There are 2 clutch switches on the clutch, one is the input to the ECU and cruise control on the position of the clutch switch, that's the switch you can easily see.

The clutch switch for the starter is back up on the firewall, it's a black box with a white plunger coming from it. The main wire to the starter runs straight through this switch, real simple design.

If you have a JDM car (I see you're in Canada) it might be that they don't have clutch switches.

The clutch switch is the ONLY thing that will allow the car to crank with the clutch not depressed. Period.

Dale
Old 05-29-10, 01:06 PM
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Your correct I do have a RHD, I will take a look up under the dash again and see if there is another switch. Thanks Dale

Mike
Old 05-29-10, 01:27 PM
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Our RHD's dont have clutch switches,
maybe - if youre not the first owner, somebody put one in for provincial safety for some stupid reason before you bought it.
Old 05-29-10, 06:19 PM
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the US is the only market to get a clutch switch, we have bigger feet and more lawyers....
Old 05-29-10, 10:13 PM
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Ahh thanks guys! saves me from having to try and get my head under the dash LOL

Thanks Again


Mike
Old 05-30-10, 05:30 AM
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Yeah the US is the only country that requires the switch. Stupid govt and their regulations lol, every other country in the world makes it just fine without them.
Old 05-30-10, 08:26 AM
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Wait im not understanding.

She tries to start in gear without depressing the clutch?

Cause i always start my car in gear to disable the AWS. Obviously with the clutch down but yeah i always start in gear.

Am i missing something here?
Old 05-30-10, 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 1QWIK7
Wait im not understanding.

She tries to start in gear without depressing the clutch?

Cause i always start my car in gear to disable the AWS. Obviously with the clutch down but yeah i always start in gear.

Am i missing something here?
In US cars like ours, our clutches have a clutch switch that tells the car when the clutch is depressed and then will allow you to start the car. This is just a safety feature that only the United States (that I'm aware of) uses. Any other country you can hop in a manual car and just crank it up. For some reason, our safety regulations require that the car can't be started without having the clutch depressed. And since his car is in another country, he doesn't have to push in the clutch to start the car. Does that help?
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