Planet 9

**lkl777** · #1 05-06-2009, 07:29 AM

Just curious if anyone has encountered problems starting your car when depressing clutch. My wifes Boxster is getting pretty fussy you have to stand on it to get it to start. Hopefully there is an adjustment for the clutch arm or maybe the solenoid itself. Maybe the solenoid is sticking either way it's under warranty. Never encountered this before on a Porsche. Would much rather fix it at home and avoid a service appointment if possible.

ELP_JC · #2 05-06-2009, 08:09 AM

Not a direct answer to your problem, but I always bypass the clutch switch on my manual cars. Some people refer to it as a 'safety' switch, but I think it's just the opposite. Think about it: If you don't pay attention tranny is in N, you'd either creep forward (bypassed switch) with the starter, or shoot forward (switch in place) when you release the clutch at high idle.
Plus you can start your car without having to seat on it, and install a remote starter if desired. And it's reversible in a minute. Take care.

**lkl777** · #3 05-06-2009, 09:18 AM

I have thought about it but for safety as well as warranty issues no can do. And it's my wifes car! I can get away with a lot but hands off her baby. Since I can't leave well enough alone and have modified every car I get her point is well taken. Better to do this one by the book.

NorminHouston · #4 05-06-2009, 02:39 PM

My '03 Boxster S would start most of the time but would not at other times. Turned out to be a faulty clutch interlock switch.

fscwheeler · #5 05-06-2009, 03:14 PM

Porsche roadside assistance came out and fixed mine - took 15 minutes if that. He said there are 2 switches behind there?? and that the one that needs to be depressed on startup needed adjustment. Sounds like something you can poke around with and see if you can fix yourself!

Good luck

ELP_JC · #6 05-06-2009, 07:55 PM

Yep, there're 2 switches in there. The one on top of pedal travel is cruise deactivate, and the one at bottom of pedal travel is clutch interlock. Both are usually next to each other, and clutch pedal usually rests on the cruise one (they have metal bodies). Just get on your back and you'll see them. Check they're solidly attached, and also check the connectors. Good luck.

Superman · #7 05-07-2009, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by ELP_JC

Not a direct answer to your problem, but I always bypass the clutch switch on my manual cars. Some people refer to it as a 'safety' switch, but I think it's just the opposite. Think about it: If you don't pay attention tranny is in N, you'd either creep forward (bypassed switch) with the starter, or shoot forward (switch in place) when you release the clutch at high idle.
Plus you can start your car without having to seat on it, and install a remote starter if desired. And it's reversible in a minute. Take care.

Can you please provide more infoon how to bypass the clutch switch for start?
I have a physical issue which makes it hard to toe the clutch all the way.
Thanks!

ELP_JC · #8 05-07-2009, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Superman

Can you please provide more infoon how to bypass the clutch switch for start?
I have a physical issue which makes it hard to toe the clutch all the way.
Thanks!

It's pretty simple. All you need is a pair of needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, and a thin paper clip. Remove the connector (make sure it's not the cruise deactivate) and measure how wide you need to make the 'bridge'. Play bending the clip with the needle-nose pliers until you get it right (each clip has 3 long sections you can use), cut the leads to about 1/4", and you'll end up with a squared 'U'. Holding the middle of the 'U' with the needle-nose pliers, insert it into the female leads, push it all the way in with your finger, then put a small piece of black electrical tape around it. Finally, reinsert the connector part way until it feels secured. The 'overflowing' electrical tape will make it hard to reinsert, so it should stay put. I cut the tape small enough that nothing shows when reinserted, but I'm anal

. The good news is reversal takes 10 seconds. Just remember to remove it for resale. Now you can start your car without having to even bend. Plus you'll wear your seat at half the rate

. Hope this helps. Good day gang.

Superman · #9 05-07-2009, 05:50 PM

Thanks to all who commented for the help. I also realized that there could be liability issues concerning modifying the car so that it may be started without pressing the clutch. Initially I only though that perhaps it would abuse the starter if a start was attempted in gear... but what if the car DID start and moved for some reason causing damage or injury!!?

However my car might be "out of spec" in that it is extremely difficult to toe the clutch far enough to the floor to start the car.

Here's that I found (see photo).
On the start enable switch there is a metal tab that the clutch presses on. If that metal tab were out of spec and bent slightly away from the clutch arm it would be very difficult to start the car. Conversely if that metal tab were bent in closer to the clutch arm the car would be much easier to start. Depressing the clutch would still be required to start the car, but you would not have to be "Dr. Long Toe".

Of course this is just anaysis and I'm not suggesting that anyone should take it upon themselves bend that piece of metal themselves.

beez · #10 05-07-2009, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by ELP_JC

It's pretty simple. All you need is a pair of needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, and a thin paper clip. Remove the connector (make sure it's not the cruise deactivate) and measure how wide you need to make the 'bridge'. Play bending the clip with the needle-nose pliers until you get it right (each clip has 3 long sections you can use), cut the leads to about 1/4", and you'll end up with a squared 'U'. Holding the middle of the 'U' with the needle-nose pliers, insert it into the female leads, push it all the way in with your finger, then put a small piece of black electrical tape around it. Finally, reinsert the connector part way until it feels secured. The 'overflowing' electrical tape will make it hard to reinsert, so it should stay put. I cut the tape small enough that nothing shows when reinserted, but I'm anal

. The good news is reversal takes 10 seconds. Just remember to remove it for resale. Now you can start your car without having to even bend. Plus you'll wear your seat at half the rate

. Hope this helps. Good day gang.

Originally Posted by Superman

Thanks to all who commented for the help. I also realized that there could be liability issues concerning modifying the car so that it may be started without pressing the clutch. Initially I only though that perhaps it would abuse the starter if a start was attempted in gear... but what if the car DID start and moved for some reason causing damage or injury!!?

However my car might be "out of spec" in that it is extremely difficult to toe the clutch far enough to the floor to start the car.

Here's that I found (see photo).
On the start enable switch there is a metal tab that the clutch presses on. If that metal tab were out of spec and bent slightly away from the clutch arm it would be very difficult to start the car. Conversely if that metal tab were bent in closer to the clutch arm the car would be much easier to start. Depressing the clutch would still be required to start the car, but you would not have to be "Dr. Long Toe".

Of course this is just anaysis and I'm not suggesting that anyone should take it upon themselves bend that piece of metal themselves.

Be careful how you deal with this switch, it is also used to deactivate the cruise control.

brad

Superman · #11 05-07-2009, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by beez

Be careful how you deal with this switch, it is also used to deactivate the cruise control.

brad

The red connector switch disables the cruise control as soon as there is ANY clutch movement.
The start enable switch activates as the clutch becomes more fully depressed and is independent of the cruise control switch.

beez · #12 05-07-2009, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Superman

The red connector switch disables the cruise control as soon as there is ANY clutch movement.
The start enable switch activates as the clutch becomes more fully depressed and is independent of the cruise control switch.

Ah, you are correct - I was thinking of the switch at the top, you're referring to the switch down at the bottom. Sorry.

brad