Car won't start unless clutch is pressed

[wannabe]

my dads car is a bug...

[Rope-Pusher]

Starter-interlock switch on the clutch release pedal is NOT a government requirement is U.S of A, but there was a threat to make that happen around 1990 or so and so most automakers designed them into their vehicles from then on. It may have been a misguided by-product of the "Unintended Acceleration" syndrome that seemed to afflict Audi drivers in the USA. For slushboxes, which already had starter interlocked to Neutral or Park shifter positions, it resulted in brake interlock switch which requires the brake pedal to be depressed before the car can be shifted out of Park.
Amish transmission drivers are lucky - legislation was threatening to require Amish shifters to be placed in Reverse before the keys could be removed back around 1970. They backed-off before it became a law and the automakers either never released it or dropped it as soon as they could.

[Tups]

They backed-off before it became a law and the automakers either never released it or dropped it as soon as they could.

Everyone except Saab, AFAIK. I don't know about the newest models, though, but it was one of their "special features" in the (not so distant) past. It might be annoying, but at least you don't forget to put the car on gear when you park your ore wagon in a hill. The parking brake might fail, after all, especially if the car is old.

Anyway, I never start a car without depressing the clutch. Why do you have to (be able to) start the car on neutral without pressing the clutch anyway?

[watkins]

Everyone except Saab, AFAIK. I don't know about the newest models, though, but it was one of their "special features" in the (not so distant) past. It might be annoying, but at least you don't forget to put the car on gear when you park your ore wagon in a hill. The parking brake might fail, after all, especially if the car is old.

My car exactly. No functional handbrake, and the safety feature (something I would do anyways however) makes sure I dont roll away

[AHTOXA]

I learned to drive manual on an '86 Honda Civic. One day soon after I started driving I came up to a local park to meet two friends. I parallel parked behind a friend's car who was behind the other friend. When I went to leave their cars were still there. I cranked the car only to find out it was still in gear. No, it did not have the clutch interlock. I rammed into the car in front and pushed it into the car in front of that.

Needless to say my friends were kinda pissed.

[permabanned]

i guess it helps being that im not american so i dont have a mindset to seek out every possible thing to sue people over.

[Rope-Pusher]

Anyway, I never start a car without depressing the clutch. Why do you have to (be able to) start the car on neutral without pressing the clutch anyway?

It's handy if you are rock crawling. I was up at the somewhat local scout camp this last weekend, teaching Cub Scouts and their moms how to shoot BB guns. I shifted the transfer case into low range, just so it was easier to drive slowly through the camp, and experimented a little. I found that when in low range, the engine will start without depressing the clutch pedal ("People will be stepping on you all your life!"). There was a slight delay between when I twisted the ignition switch to the start position and when the starter motor actually spun the engine that is NOT there when I depress the clutch pedal before starting. I think there is a safety committee in the confuser that has to rule on the matter.

Note: Although over 1000 were involved, NO eyeballs were injured in the making of this post.

[Warner]

All you have to do to never get stuck on railroad tracks is *not* stop on railroad tracks.

[RITmusic2k]

All you have to do to never get stuck on railroad tracks is *not* stop on railroad tracks.

You've obviously never been the target of a monster / homicidal maniac / trio of reasonably attractive young orphans or the mysterious count who's after their deceased parents' fortune... stopping on train tracks is near inevitable in those circumstances.

[LHOswald]

so there are certain model cars without clutch-interlock switches? my friend tried to get a remote car starter for his 525i and couldn't because its stick. could he get it installed if he had a clutch interlock switch, set it so he could start his car without depressing the clutch, and always leaving it out of gear? the guy he brought it to said he wouldn't even touch it because its standard

[theholycow]

The problem isn't the car, it's the installer. Nobody wants to face that potential liability. Can you blame an installer for that? I can't.

There are remote start units that are designed for use with manual transmissions and are capable of triggering the clutch switch. I know that some require the car to be exited and shut off remotely to be sure it was parked in neutral. I think others may use a neutral safety switch.

[LHOswald]

so pretty much the starter won't even fire unless a certain sensor senses the car is in neutral?

cool

[Rope-Pusher]

There is no in-gear indicator on an Amish transmission except for Reverse (back-up light switch), so unless the vehicle is in Reverse the confuser has noah dear if it's in Neutral or not.

[LHOswald]

well im sure a sensor is installed if you have the remote starter put in

[theholycow]

Yup, when I wrote "I think others may use a neutral safety switch" I meant that they require one to be installed.