Won’t start when pressing clutch

[Jon 5.0 2015GT]

Craziest thing happened to me today. 1st serious issue since I bought my car. I get to a shop today to fix some tint on one of my windows. And as I’m in the waiting area the guy comes in and asks me if I have a kill switch on the car. Said no just the stock alarm. He goes well the car doesn’t start. I said say that again. And he does. I go out there and I get in the car and press the clutch and sure as sh** the car doesn’t start. Dash says press on the clutch meanwhile I have my foot all the way down on the clutch and nothing. So ended up rolling the car into the street they gave me a push popped the clutch and I was on my way. Got her home & ordered the 2 neutral safety switches and left her alone. Got into the car again later on because I honestly can’t believe that these switches went bad since the car only has 22,000 on it. I try again and nothing still until I slam my foot down on the brake pedal and the starter kicked in. That’s right I said brake pedal. Not a complete crank but it engaged I do it again and the same thing. Starter kicked in but not a complete crank. Did it again not a complete crank & she turned over. It didn’t crank every time I slammed my foot on the brake though was like every other time. So I’m curious about this now. Is the brake switch in any way connected to the neutral safety switches or was it from me slamming my foot on the brake and caused a vibration for the circuit to complete for a split second? Any insight from anyone would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.

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[Johnny Rockit]

Nothing but a guess on my part but maybe the switch is freeballing under the dash after either breaking a bracket/mount or there is a short in the connector. I haven't sprung for the manuals yet so I have no clue. Just picturing it in my mind.

 

[WV millwright]

I haven't look at the location of the switches either but sounds like maybe a loose switch or connection. I'd make sure everything is plugged in completely. My 18 F150 had 38k miles on it when the plastic pin that holds the brake petal to the linkage fell and hit my foot while going down the road. It kicked the cruise off and would not allow the truck to accelerate for more than a few seconds because the computer thought I was pressing the brake the same time it was throttling. I pulled over looked under dash and found where the pin went. That's been 20k miles ago. I've checked it a few times since and it's still in place a locked in. Not sure if it wasn't full locked from the factory or it vibrated out.

Hopefully your plug or switch is the same. Sure sounds like a loose connection to me. But again this is just a guess.

 

[Jon 5.0 2015GT]

I haven't look at the location of the switches either but sounds like maybe a loose switch or connection. I'd make sure everything is plugged in completely. My 18 F150 had 38k miles on it when the plastic pin that holds the brake petal to the linkage fell and hit my foot while going down the road. It kicked the cruise off and would not allow the truck to accelerate for more than a few seconds because the computer thought I was pressing the brake the same time it was throttling. I pulled over looked under dash and found where the pin went. That's been 20k miles ago. I've checked it a few times since and it's still in place a locked in. Not sure if it wasn't full locked from the factory or it vibrated out.

Hopefully your plug or switch is the same. Sure sounds like a loose connection to me. But again this is just a guess.

Yeah, I checked the connections. 1 switch is directly behind the clutch pedal. That one’s easy but good OL’Ford put the 2nd. at the top of the the pedal. Think I’m goin to have to remove the clutch spring in order to make it easier to get to but doubt it. Put my hand up there since you can’t really see anything and plug felt lock in. But The loose connection might be inside the plastic switches they use. Very flimsy & cheap. They look like they could easily break. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Johnny Rockit]

Give them a little wiggle first.

 

[luca1290]

Do you have a way to monitor the state of the two switches by reading the PCM PIDs?

 

[Hye Power]

Pull up on your clutch pedal all the way then try again, ive seen this happen after a clutch replacement and air gets in the system the pedal wont return all the way to the up position and after a few tries will say on the display press brakes when starting.

 

[Jon 5.0 2015GT]

Do you have a way to monitor the state of the two switches by reading the PCM PIDs?

No I don’t. Plugged in a code finder in the obd2 port and no codes. Dash still says for me to press clutch to start and I already have it pressed. Car not getting signal that the clutch is pressed. Never had a problem with this car. Always started. Always reliable.

 

[Jon 5.0 2015GT]

Pull up on your clutch pedal all the way then try again, ive seen this happen after a clutch replacement and air gets in the system the pedal wont return all the way to the up position and after a few tries will say on the display press brakes when starting.

I get press clutch pedal in display but I already have my foot down on it.

 

[Jon 5.0 2015GT]

Pull up on your clutch pedal all the way then try again, ive seen this happen after a clutch replacement and air gets in the system the pedal wont return all the way to the up position and after a few tries will say on the display press brakes when starting.

Will do. I’ll try later on.

 

[Hye Power]

I get press clutch pedal in display but I already have my foot down on it.

pull up on it just try it, make sure it coming all the way the clutch has 2 swtches on it. So pull all the way then try to restart.

 

[Jon 5.0 2015GT]

Pull up on your clutch pedal all the way then try again, ive seen this happen after a clutch replacement and air gets in the system the pedal wont return all the way to the up position and after a few tries will say on the display press brakes when starting.

Will do. I’ll try later on

pull up on it just try it, make sure it coming all the way the clutch has 2 swtches on it. So pull all the way then try to restart.

Will do. 3:20 in the am right now. Try later will let you know. Lol

 

[luca1290]

No I don’t. Plugged in a code finder in the obd2 port and no codes. Dash still says for me to press clutch to start and I already have it pressed. Car not getting signal that the clutch is pressed. Never had a problem with this car. Always started. Always reliable.

It will not fire you a code, simply because it's not a fault, just a condition that is not met to allow the engine to start (even if the switch is disconnected/faulty).
That's why I asked you if you can monitor the PIDs and read the switch status the PCM is reporting.

Forscan on a laptop and a diagnostic interface will do that. Since you already ordered the new switches you can wait and just swap them, but maybe just one one faulty and right now you have no easy way of determining which. Or maybe you can use a multimeter....

 

[Jon 5.0 2015GT]

Thanks but I have no way to read what you’re asking me to check. Both switches cost me a total of 40$ so it’s not a big hit financially. That’s why I just ordered them.

 

[cerbomark]

on a former 911 Porsche there was a way with a small piece of wire to jump that switch. I can t remember the details. I remember learning this and keeping a piece in the glove box just in case.

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