Clutch Safety Switch--Car Won't Start
 

I had my car towed into the Mazda dealer yesterday because it wouldn't
start. They told me it was because "the clutch safety switch" "fell off"??

Anyone else have this problem?

Do you have really big feet or position your feet high on the clutch pedal? The switch is located near the pivot of the clutch pedal. Not too hard to knock off.

Slightly OT: So US cars won't start unless the clutch pedal is depressed? What do you do if you stall on a railway crossing (apart from get out and run?). In Australia you'd engage the starter to drive the car off the track.

I know of a certain well known forum member running out of fuel with metres to go before the pump and using the starter motor to drive the car the rest of the way :eek:

too much of a liability in this country. We have idiots that wont check if there car is in neutral before they crank the starter therefore it could be sent crashing into another car... good ol stupid americans.

I had the clutch switch cause a problem in my wife's 96 Miata. It didn't fail, but itwasn't making good contact. The switch is also connected to the ECU to adjust idle when the clutch pedal is depressed. In our Miata, the bad switch caused the idle to fluctuate (actually the ECU was trying to compensate) causing reving from 800 to 2000 rpms, everyone next to her thought she wanted to race them. Took me about 3 months to troubleshoot the idle problem.

Most of us are on the original starter motor design and the original 360 cca battery. They barely start the engine let alone move the car in an emergency.

All mt cars in the states have been built this way since the 70's. A lot of the American brand mt's won't let you take the key out of the ignition until you shift into reverse too.

Yes , I agree, if my ass is looking down the barrel of 100 ton locomotive and my 8 decides to take a japanese siesta across the railroad tracks, if it won't crank foreward in 1st or 2nd, 3rd for that matter,then I don't need an RX8 after all. hmm, think I'll trial run this scenerio in real time (less the train ) and see , whether its worthy in the event shit really does go wrong.....

What if you engage stater with clutch in and then keep it engaged while you let the clutch out?

Hmm... interesting the bit about not being able to remove the key unless the car is reverse... can't say I've seen that on a car downunder.

Same Problem
 

For the last 6 Months I have an Intermittant problem I turn the key and like nothing happens I wait a few minutes and try 2 or 3 times and then it starts I bought a new Interstate Battery. Last weekend I went on a trip and it took me 2 or 3 minutes to get the thing to start. I called the dealer he did not have a clue and then someone in the group told me it sounds like a dirty or faulty clutch safety switch. Sound familiar??

If your floor mat bunches up at the front you cannot depress the clutch pedal enough to engage the switch happened a lot on the 10th AnnTII I had.

Can't say I've ever seen that in the states.
-R.

SAAB's have done this forever, as long as I can remember... then again, thry also have the key down on the center console next to the gear shift...