Anybody ever replace the clutch safety switch?

[Z51JEFF]

Paul,in one sentence you're telling me basically I'm wasting money replacing the starter and in the next you're telling me the starter is also troublesome,both of the no start issues I would like to address.Now here's where this thing gets completely bizarre. I've had this car for 8 years,I've put about 16,000 miles on the car in that time. Out of the 6 times the car wouldn't start 5 of those times the car was parked in the same spot at my parents house. Maybe I should park it across the street next I'm over there.

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by Z51JEFF

Paul,in one sentence you're telling me basically I'm wasting money replacing the starter and in the next you're telling me the starter is also troublesome,both of the no start issues I would like to address.Now here's where this thing gets completely bizarre. I've had this car for 8 years,I've put about 16,000 miles on the car in that time. Out of the 6 times the car wouldn't start 5 of those times the car was parked in the same spot at my parents house. Maybe I should park it across the street next I'm over there.

It might have something to do with the angle the starter Solenoid is sitting at
Is your parents house driveway level?
Maybe there is an unknown high intensity magnetic field in that area. In which case...be very careful parking the car in the reverse direction as it may Start Itself

[XfireZ51]

Jeff,

Do your parents live in the Bermuda Triangle?

[RussMcB]

Before I'd dive in to R&R the starter, I'd try rigging up something (perhaps temporarily) to provide 12v straight from the battery to the starter (perhaps via relay). The purple wire is fairly accessible and not hard to splice into. If the car always starts that way, you'll know the starter is not the problem (which is good. They are pretty deep to get to, and hard to find or expensive if you decide to buy a new one).

Hope this helps.

[Z51JEFF]

I think I'm going to bypass the switch first and then here very soon replace the starter. I've got a new starter in my stash and I've been wanting to pull the plenum to reapply a thin coat of heat sink grease to the backside of the spark unit so might change it at that time.

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by Z51JEFF

I think I'm going to bypass the switch first and then here very soon replace the starter. I've got a new starter in my stash and I've been wanting to pull the plenum to reapply a thin coat of heat sink grease to the backside of the spark unit so might change it at that time.

If you're going to get the starter out, try a re-build kit. Inexpensive replacing contacts and cleaning off things. That's really all that's needed. $20 max.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by Z51JEFF

Paul,in one sentence you're telling me basically I'm wasting money replacing the starter and in the next you're telling me the starter is also troublesome,both of the no start issues I would like to address.Now here's where this thing gets completely bizarre. I've had this car for 8 years,I've put about 16,000 miles on the car in that time. Out of the 6 times the car wouldn't start 5 of those times the car was parked in the same spot at my parents house. Maybe I should park it across the street next I'm over there.

Well, I should clarify my statement a bit: A better way of putting it is to say that around (in my case and some others) the high-current contacts in the solenoid start failing around 40k miles (±). So, between the clutch switch and those contacts, they seem to crop up most often (but again around or after 40k miles...±)

But, hey! If you have a starter on hand (which you didn't initially mention), then go for it and refurbish the other so it will be on hand "if ever". Otherwise, the failure rates (observed) of the starter don't justify spending a couple hundred $$ or more when the known weak link is a $15 item...IMO.

As for the switch, others might not agree, but IMO the clutch switch by-pass is a no-brainer; an unnecessary precaution that should be moot to anybody that passed driver's ed...JMO, tho.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Z51JEFF]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Sorry for the confusion.

No confusion Paul,I'm at work right now and the confusion usually starts at the time I punch in😁. I really don't like the idea of by passing the switch but I'm just not in the mood to change the thing. When I finally found where it was I figured pulling the seat and the steering wheel might make the job easier but not today.

[Z51JEFF]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Jeff,

Do your parents live in the Bermuda Triangle?

A little bit of that and The Twilight Zone. After the 4th time I wouldn't park the car in the same spot,seriously.

[batchman]

I've been thinking I should relate the below story and this seems like the time. Here goes:

A Corvette driver recently pinned someone between his car and his trailer, with injury.
I did not talk with them, but gather that it "started in gear". Of course this can only happen if the subject switch is bypassed, or if a foot slips or a knee spasms etc. This driver has owned the car for several years, the trailer for maybe 2. Like any of us, this is someone you would expect to have good habits and situational awareness.

I too would probably bypass the switch if/when it happens to me, but the above gave me pause. Clearly, accidents can and do happen. A functioning clutch safety switch suddenly seems more important to my eye - and I would not have said that a month ago.

Seemed worth mentioning, back to your regularly scheduled program .

Stay safe out there,
- Jeff