In a search of the forum, it looks like what I am experiencing is normal. But I wanted to get some current feedback.

I don't know if I hadn't noticed this since I got the car 1500 miles ago, or it just started, but today I noticed that there is a pretty loud "click" when I press the clutch pedal down.

In the older threads, the feeling is that it is some safety switch.

My questions are: Does everybody hear it? Has anyone tried to eliminate it?

 

It probably the switch for starting the engine. I believe that all late model vehicles w/ manual transmissions have some type of lockout so that you must can't start the engine without the clutch depressed.

I haven't really tried hearing it on the s197, but on the 00 v6 that I had, I think I remember hearing it slightly.

In terms of removing it: I believe that it is possible, but I wouldn't recommend it

 

I didn't mean removing the switch - only eliminating, or reducing, the volume of the click.

 

Sorry...misunderstood the question.

I don't think there would be any way to lessen the volume of the click. It's kind of like your computer keyboard (actually, the switch itself is probably similar too).

 

Yea, that's what I'm thinking too.

 

I believe that there are 2 switches associated with the clutch. One is at the bottom of the pedal travel and is a safety switch to keep you from starting the car in gear. The second is at the top of the pedal travel and is the cruise control disconnect to keep your engine from racing out of control if the pedal is depressed.

I think the second switch is the one that you can hear clicking when the clutch pedal is depressed. I haven't looked at the switch, but I wonder if you could 'insulate' part of it with Dynamat or something similar. Maybe that would muffle the sound enough that you wouldn't hear it.

 

It is the starter interupt switch which is on a tab on the clutch arm. I didn't care for the click and didn't want to have to get in the car everytime to start it, so I just bypassed it by taping it in the depressed position.

 

Yeah, but if you leave it in gear, you still can't start it...right.

I believe that method only works if you leave it in neutral.

 

Well....you could start it in gear if the switch was depressed, but the car would lurch forward as the starter turns over the engine. When the engine catches and fires up, the car will be off and running.

I did that one time on my old 89 mustang when the clutch cable went out, making it impossible to disengage the clutch. It was quite an interesting 90 mile drive through traffic on my way home from school. Stoplights were REAL fun, shutting the engine off to get it into 1st gear, then pushing in the clutch pedal to disengage the switch and let it start. The car lurched forward slowly as the starter moved the engine AND car, then finally fired up. Rev matching to shift without a clutch took some practice but was do-able. Anyway, good times.

 

Ah, yes, the infamous 2" wire clutch cable that goes out every 10000 miles or so. My sister had a 93 stang, and had that happen to her twice.

After the second time, we would just replace the cable every other oil change. Better safe than sorry...it was a $5 part that would cost a lot more when it failed b/c of towing.

 

Joe:

Is the switch you are talking the one that's engages when the clutch pedal is pressed all the way in? If its only purpose is to prevent a start without pressing the clutch, taping it down seems like a good solution.

I was thinking about this on the way in to work. I think that the metal bracket may be enhancing the click.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

I just went through this yesterday. I think it's the top switch thats making the noise, the dealer is getting me another one. Also, they thought it was the lower switch, they put a new one in. Some times my car would not start. The new switch fixed it, the "plunger" on the new one is about 3/8" longer then the old one. The old switch with the shorter plunger, was not making contact.

 

FRITZ: Did you specifically tell them about the noisy (top) switch? Is that why they are replacing it?

If so, keep us posted as to whether it makes a difference. As I said in my original post, I hadn't heard the noise for the first few weeks. I'm pretty sure I would have, so I'm thinking it suddenly got noisier.

Thanks,

Paul