Old Car - What would you do?

[jakcamden]

1992 Accord 215k miles, daily driver. Original clutch even. Old girl wouldn't start today. Found neutral starter switch to be problem. Here is the rub. After taking switch out to check continuity took 45 minutes to get the darn thing back in. 6'-3" 215lbs frame is hard to contort down and up. Anyway got it back in. Thought it was a little loose when I took it out so maybe just needed adjustment, tried and it failed. While pushing in clutch pedal to check continuity a small plastic tab fell and hit my forehead. BINGO seen it before on brake switch. The plastic button where switch pluger hit fell apart. Impossible to get a new button in without ripping whole clutch pedal assembly out. So I just shorted the connector, fires right up and called it done. First time I have ever had to jury rig a repair.

What would you do?

 

[FlyBy]

I wouldn't worry about it. I have a couple friends that have overridden that switch and as long as you remember to press in the clutch pedal when staring, you'll be fine.

Personally, I'm so used to pressing in the clutch in my car that I attempt to do it in my wife's automatic!

 

[mayday0017]

I would keep using it as is, and maybe get the title and stick a post it on there so when I go to sell the car one day I remember to tell the new buyer about the switch. Someone could get hurt if the driver didn't push the clutch in when they tried to start the car. It is mostly others drivign you need to worry about, I'm sure you have the habbit of pushing the clutch in, and if you forget at least you are responsible for your actions ***** when you are responsible for someone else's actions....

 

[Toolgarage]

X2 on overiding it just splice both wires together And your done

 

[aandpdan]

I've had plenty of manuals which didn't have a clutch safety switch. You solution was fine.

 

[Bustedwheel]

Agree with using it as is. On a Wrangler TJ I had, it actually had a dummy plug to override that switch form the factory. Something to do with off roading.

 

[mayday0017]

That reminds me my Tacoma I had several years back had a momentary switch in the dash from the factory to overide the clutch... that wouldn't be a bad way of taking care of it, it would be cheap and you would have no risk of someone ever starting it while in gear....

 

[chris142]

You bypassed the clutch start switch, not the Neutral start switch. A neutral start switch is used with an automatic trans..

Anyway I bypass that stupid switch on every car I own. I hate them.

 

[barks]

When did the auto companies (or more likely the federal government) decide the American driver was too stupid to not start the vehicle without the clutch in or the vehicle in neutral?

 

[Richard D]

1992 Accord
What would you do?

It's a Jap car. It's a 90's car. I'd junk it.

 

[i need a garage]

It's a Jap car. It's a 90's car. I'd junk it.

huh?

OP you should be ok.
My retiring 93 325i starts without pushing the clutch in. I still push in the clutch by habit cuz my other cars are manual

 

[boostedgt]

It's a Jap car. It's a 90's car. I'd junk it.

mid 80's-mid 90's are the best ones

 

[jakcamden]

Just wondering if any purest would take the time and effort to "do it right". Perfectly happy with the bypass. Junk it. No way! 34 mpg's. Interior looks great, paint well...Starts ever time(except today) When I can't fix it with my skill set then it will go to car heaven. I love the old girl.

 

[cadunkle]

Clutch interlock switches are new, never used to have them. Personally I have removed them from every vehicle I own as I consider the interlock switches a safety hazard. In the (very rare) event my vehicle stalls in a dangerous spot and wont start, I want to be able to move the vehicle with the starter. Only had to do it once, but it saved me a lot of money as I'm sure the police would have impounded it for breaking down (bad fuel pump) in a dangerous spot.

 

[ctb]

A lot of european cars don't have interlock switches. Iv'e owned a 94 accord, 93 bmw, 03 skoda and a 07 renault and none of them were fitted with one.

 

[eborcim]

drive it til the wheels fall off or the motor seizes

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Clutch interlock switches are new, never used to have them. Personally I have removed them from every vehicle I own as I consider the interlock switches a safety hazard. In the (very rare) event my vehicle stalls in a dangerous spot and wont start, I want to be able to move the vehicle with the starter. Only had to do it once, but it saved me a lot of money as I'm sure the police would have impounded it for breaking down (bad fuel pump) in a dangerous spot.

I guess you don't work in the vehicle repair business do ya?

I've seen clutch interlock switches in use as far back as 1984 on the Ford Ranger Pickup....

 

[larry_g]

I guess you don't work in the vehicle repair business do ya?

I've seen clutch interlock switches in use as far back as 1984 on the Ford Ranger Pickup....

Or you must be perty young..In my opinion only the newer cars have the interlock switches.
lg
no neat sig line

 

[gpalmer77]

I wouldn't worry about it. I grew up in England when no cars had this, and I consider it an "idiot" safety measure. My Dad taught me that if you're not smart enough to check that the car is in neutral, and it jumps on you, then maybe you'll remember next time. ;-)

When I took my test in England in '95, (admittedly, a much tougher test than the one I took when I moved Stateside), they marked you down if you didn't check neutral by wiggling the shifter before starting. If you happened to kangaroo it because you forgot, it'd be a fail. In fact, the first car I borrowed in the US was the first one that I'd driven with this feature, and I had to call the guy and ask him why it wouldn't start. He thought I was dumb. I told him his car thought he was dumb.

 

[jakcamden]

Driven sticks for last 33 years and I always wiggle the stick. Drove it an hour ago and clutch pedal went down like instinct. Somethings you just don't forget.

Thanks guys.

 

[cadunkle]

I guess you don't work in the vehicle repair business do ya?

I've seen clutch interlock switches in use as far back as 1984 on the Ford Ranger Pickup....

'84? Sounds pretty new to me. I usually drive 60s vehicles, newest is an '86 Ford... which when I converted to a big block and manual I did not include the clutch interlock switch when installing the pedals. I won't touch anything so new as to be fuel injected, no thanks I need to get to work on time so need something that just plain works.

 

[brownbagg]

i over ride my clutch switch on my 25 year old toyota, 24 years and six months ago. why did it take you so long

 

[cyamaha2007]

And now as a plus you have a electric vehicle if need be. I stalled my silverado in a deep creek (distributor got soaked) I put it in reverse and low tcase. I backed the truck out of the hole and onto dry ground using the starter.

 

[bazzateer]

When did the auto companies (or more likely the federal government) decide the American driver was too stupid to not start the vehicle without the clutch in or the vehicle in neutral?

Exactly!

 

[djkeev]

I guess you don't work in the vehicle repair business do ya?

I've seen clutch interlock switches in use as far back as 1984 on the Ford Ranger Pickup....

I agree with the others, 84 is new! You must be a newbie to cars. My first car was a 1960. Heck, 1970's are new cars to me! All that Dang emission **** bolted on!
Do you remember carburetors?

Dave

 

[Medic1]

After years of repairing cars for a living, I have found that the little 'safety' features like that do well for their purpose, which is to protect the auto manufacturer from being sued by a stupid driver. However, on virtually every standard transmission I have ever owned, I have disabled this little demon. I have never built a car with one, and often I am the only one in the service bay working on said vehicle, and don't have the extra hands/feet to deal with it. Interesting note though, some '90's Toyota trucks had an override switch on the dash, left of the wheel. That's what I call tech-friendly.

 

[FrankieD]

I agree with the others,bypass it and be happy! Some of you guys talk about this switch as if its a new idea.My father had a '51 Nash,the starter button was under the clutch pedal.You had to push the pedal to the floor for the starter to operate!

 

[Lotek]

And now as a plus you have a electric vehicle if need be. I stalled my silverado in a deep creek (distributor got soaked) I put it in reverse and low tcase. I backed the truck out of the hole and onto dry ground using the starter.

SnickerCyamaha drives a hybrid.

You ever notice, the more failsafe they make the cars, the dumber the drivers get? Witness the idiot in the Kia that couldn't stop. It's hard to make things foolproof, fools are so ingenious.

 

[Rust]

Pfft ....just dumped my 87 4 wd toyota(that blew a head gasket in the middle of a busy route in the high tide of traffic as I was driving it down to the dealership where I bought my new truck and they still gave me 1500 dollars for the trade in which is a freakin miracle in itself because it arrived on a flat bed lol)(with clutch override) for an 08 Tacoma(with clutch override that dosent seem to work and i need to figure out why)...and Im not looking back...

 

[brownbagg]

i disconnected my override on my 06 tacoma too. just unplug it from the clutch pedal.

 

[scouting]

Clutch override? My 64 scout hasn't heard of such silliness. However, my 88 accord did have that switch fail, and I did replace it just on the off chance that I don't hit the clutch when I start it.. On an older import like that I doubt I'd trust the starter to move the car, so I replaced that switch to prevent more expensive damage.

 

[benchracer]

I have a 92 accord also, same mileage 215k, original clutch, everything still works on the car. Best car I ever owned. Plan to drive it as long as I can. Stuff like the clutch switch is minor. When you have that kind of mileage, you're only gonna get so much for the car if you sell it anyway. Do what you have to and keep it running. The car is worth more to me than what I could sell it for.

 

[yellowbox]

nothing ...use as is

 

[ChristopherLutz]

OP - I wouldn't consider this a "jury rig" as much as a practical solution for the vehicle.

A 92 car is going to have all sorts of little problems happening (especially with plastics and rubber, etc.) You have to decide how much it's worth it to you keep putting money into it.

Your original post makes it seem like the car is great transportation - I concur with the crowd above. If anyone else drives the car just make sure you make a point of letting them know.

For those of us that grew up driving sticks w/o these safety switches.....it's habit anyway.

 

[rslaback]

When did the auto companies (or more likely the federal government) decide the American driver was too stupid to not start the vehicle without the clutch in or the vehicle in neutral?

I'm guessing they began thinking about it shortly after somebody backed over their child in the driveway because the car started moving when they started it. That or they drove through the garage door.

I find it amusing when people piss and moan and rant and rave because a manufacturer makes it more difficult to get hurt with their product.

"They took away my freedom to easily have accidents and hurt and maim people! Those bastards!"

 

[johnnie5]

Agree with using it as is. On a Wrangler TJ I had, it actually had a dummy plug to override that switch form the factory. Something to do with off roading.

the reason for that is so you can start the car in gear for a controlled descent on a steep hill

Mum got a hyundai excel in about 96 which dad and i picked up and drove home, as well as stopping somewhere along the way

got home and we couldnt figure out why it wouldnt start since it was a brand new car

damn clutch switch