| Car Sometimes Will not Even Turn Over I have a 2007 Honda Civic. Last winter, I noticed something starting to happen. I would turn the key to ON, and all the lights/radio would come on. I would then turn the key over to start it, but nothing would happen. It is a standard car. I would only take my foot off the clutch, turn the key off and back on, and it would start. Sometimes I would have to do those steps a couple times. It went away over the summer, and now that it's winter it has been bad again, even worse. Sometimes, I have to sit there for a minute pushing the clutch in and out, and turning the key off and on for it to finally turn over.
I have kind of narrowed it down to the clutch. I have just left the key in the on position, and just pressed the clutch in hard a couple times and it will start. Could it be the sensor for the clutch. It won't turn over if the clutch isn't pressed in, so I am thinking it may be a faulty sensor in cold weather, but then again, I don't know how it works, and maybe someone could chime in.
Thanks in advance. |
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 JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Everywhere
kudos:1 | Sounds like the safety switch on the clutch. It prevents the car being started in gear. |
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| Yeah, I knew what it was for. Unfortunately, it's causing me some issues. I am the only one that will ever drive the car so I was considering pulling the wire if anyone knows where it's located. I did the same thing on a bike I had as well, as it is just one more electrical component to fail. |
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JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Everywhere
kudos:1 | reply to Civic2392
While not familiar with that vehicle, most switches of that ilk (brake, etc.) are on the pedal itself at the firewall. |
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| Thanks, Ill take a look. |
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| reply to Civic2392
You should be able to splice a bypass to the switch, depending on where the wiring is, and also how accessible.
As a bonus, you'll now have an electric car with a range of about 1km. |
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fixrmanPremium
join:2003-02-10
Hatboro, PA | Better advice is to replace the switch if it is a problem. The clutch interlock switch is a safety device and disabling it would be unwise.
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"from a broken heart to a hole in the sky" |
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| That is the more "boring" solution... yes. |
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JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Everywhere
kudos:1 | reply to fixrman
said by fixrman:The clutch interlock switch is a safety device and disabling it would be unwise. Indeed it would be, and would make you liable for any damage caused. Probably illegal to do so as well. |
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| It's quite often done for offroading. A starter motor puts out a surprising amount of torque. |
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matt5
join:2001-10-06
Lagrangeville, NY | reply to Civic2392
OP you should *replace* the safety switch, not bypass it.
What if for some reason someone needs to move your car, does not notice it is a stick, forgets to hit the clutch...
As said you are now liable for disabling the switch. Killing someone really not worth it IMHO.
Perfect example I was asked to start a jeep I did not pull in (check tranny fluid), now 99.9999999% of the time you put a car in *park* when you get out. Well my buddy not only did not put it in park but just said "reach in and start it" as I went to open the door and get in well thankfuly I at least opened the door... she started right up... while in gear... do I need to keep going?
I mean I guess if you go offroading all the time in the civic... o wait, that whole idea is just dumb.
If you want, you can bypass it for testing to see if the switch is the issue or if you have maybe a lose wire or something else. |
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| If you can be trusted to be responsible with (and for) your own property, I don't see the issue. But it's always better to replace than fudge around, I'm not gonna deny. |
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 Doctor OldsI Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
kudos:18 | reply to Civic2392
said by Civic2392 :Yeah, I knew what it was for. Unfortunately, it's causing me some issues. I am the only one that will ever drive the car so I was considering pulling the wire if anyone knows where it's located.
Fix it the correct way by diagnosing the fault properly and then either replace the switch if defective or adjust the switch if it is found to be good but only out of adjustment. Otherwise if you bypass the switch this can happen.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=41CUk3M2cqk
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Everywhere
kudos:1 | reply to dbsanfte
The issue is, we try to give 'responsible' advice here. What needs to be done in an emergency, is another thing. Bypassing the switch will get him to a mechanic if needed, but shouldn't be disabled as a 'fix'.
I hate to think if a child got hit in a parking lot between cars over this suggestion. |
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 EGeezerSummertimePremium
join:2002-08-04
Midwest
kudos:7
 ·Callcentric
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My vote is for a proper fix. Don't bypass safety features except in temporary controlled situations.
The law of unintended consequences can kick in, and that can be expensive and painful. I'd hate to think someone got hurt because of the bypass, or at least, hate to see my insurance go up.
On a side note, when the clutch cable broke in my '58 VW (a common failure back then), I would throw it in neutral to stop, shut off the engine, put it in first gear and hit the starter when I was ready to go. Thanks to really good synchronizers, I could upshift nicely by feathering the gas pedal.
Today, that would be not-so-good given the traffic flow I now encounter.. |
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 mattmagPremium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
kudos:3 | reply to dbsanfte
said by dbsanfte:That is the more "boring" solution... yes.
What a senseless statement. If you're going to give such dangerous advice, then please don't give any at all.
A few years ago an area repair shop "fixed" a brake-interlock switch for an auto trans as you have suggested, and three weeks later a 5 year-old boy drowned when the car rolled down a steep driveway and into a pond thanks to that "fix".
Maybe "boring" isn't so bad after all... |
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| I think that was tongue-in-cheek. For all the risks associated with driving a car, the clutch/ignition switch is a minor one. We used to drive without airbags and ride bikes without helmets.  |
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| reply to dbsanfte
said by dbsanfte:You should be able to splice a bypass to the switch, Although my first cars did not have such a switch and it was not a real safety problem, the real reason you need the switch is for the cruise control. With the switch bypassed, if you run on cruise and press in the clutch, the engine will speed up greatly and possibly be damaged.
My old Datsuns didn't have cruise, hence no switch. Cars with cruise control need switches on the brake and clutch pedals. |
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 pmohrPremium
join:2002-09-22
Maryville, TN | said by aannoonn :Although my first cars did not have such a switch and it was not a real safety problem, the real reason you need the switch is for the cruise control. With the switch bypassed, if you run on cruise and press in the clutch, the engine will speed up greatly and possibly be damaged.
My old Datsuns didn't have cruise, hence no switch. Cars with cruise control need switches on the brake and clutch pedals.
On the systems I've looked at, the only clutch switch input that mattered for cruise control is the upper switch that acts just like the brake light switch, closes as soon as the pedal comes off of the stop. The clutch start switch only completes when the pedal is all the way down.
That being said, even if they were the same and you did bypass the switch (by closing the circuit) cruise would never engage, seeing as it would see the clutch pedal as constantly being down. |
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| reply to Civic2392
My suggested fix was tongue-in-cheek from the get-go. I assumed seasoned internet veterans would recognize such ridiculous sarcasm, but I humbly admit I was mistaken. |
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