Start your box w/ no clutch...

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

This reminds me of when a broken timing belt left me stranded in a '94 Integra. I had no way to get it on to the trailer, so I shoved a wad of paper behind the clutch switch, so I could run it on with the starter!

Another good reason not to artificially disable your car. If your clutch hydraulics goes out for some reason, you will still be able to start and drive your car, shifting clutchless to limp home.

[Lobo1186]

Another thing to point out, if you have the ROW flash for the DME (I have it and it is pretty nice) you do not need to push in the clutch. So it would seem only the good old US of A needs this extra step.

[ppbon]

... absolutely correct.
The DOT requires this interlock which is not integrated into the RoW cars.
These regulations stem from countless lawsuits, mostly from distracted drivers.
It became a BIG deal right after AUDIs we driving off "on their own" back in the 70s.
The DOT was moved to regulate the clutch interlock as well as the brake interlock for automatic transmissions.
Bypassing the clutch microswitch was the first hack I ever did on my car. The same day I bought it, as soon as I got home.
Later I also remapped my ECU to RoW specs which then doesn't look for the switch.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

[Bobiam]

After retiring after 35 yrs in the insurance industry and safety profession, I fully realize that in most cases we humans need layers of precautions to prevent serious accidents. Actually, you should place the shifter in neutral as an extra safety step when starting the car. This would prevent a "foot slip off clutch" accident, or absent minded clutch release after starting.

One may get away with a dangerous procedure/habit for a lifetime.....or just one day because they are upset or distracted for a second, a small step is forgotten (popping the lever into neutral) and it cost you a bumper or somebody's lower legs.

Don't think that I don't take plenty of calculated risks where the frequency and severity of the accident would be minimal....but this risk just isn't worth it and has so little benefit compared to the potential loss.

Bob

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Bobiam

After retiring after 35 yrs in the insurance industry and safety profession, I fully realize that in most cases we humans need layers of precautions to prevent serious accidents. Actually, you should place the shifter in neutral as an extra safety step when starting the car. This would prevent a "foot slip off clutch" accident, or absent minded clutch release after starting.

One may get away with a dangerous procedure/habit for a lifetime.....or just one day because they are upset or distracted for a second, a small step is forgotten (popping the lever into neutral) and it cost you a bumper or somebody's lower legs.

Don't think that I don't take plenty of calculated risks where the frequency and severity of the accident would be minimal....but this risk just isn't worth it and has so little benefit compared to the potential loss.

Bob

This frustrates me. I'm having a hard time staying on topic with my response, but I'm going to try really hard. Here it is: Have you ever actually seen what happens and how much the car moves when you try to start it while it's in gear?

[jwade]

Wow...didn't know I would initiate so many responses on the topic.

For what it's worth, I couldn't be happier about the mod....

Also think about this for a second...

If a mechanic or someone else driving your car did not know this mod was done, they would most likely depress the clutch when they started the car, which would take the car out of gear if it wasn't already in neutral...

I would think you would be a little nuts to try and turn the car over while a gear is selected and the clutch was not engaged.

[ppbon]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

This frustrates me. I'm having a hard time staying on topic with my response, but I'm going to try really hard. Here it is: Have you ever actually seen what happens and how much the car moves when you try to start it while it's in gear?

... if you have the handbrake engaged the car won't go anywhere even if it's in 1st gear.
It's all bout getting used to it.
The Europeans don't have their cars taking of and damaging bumpers and injuring people's legs.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by ppbon

... if you have the handbrake engaged the car won't go anywhere even if it's in 1st gear.
It's all bout getting used to it.
The Europeans don't have their cars taking of and damaging bumpers and injuring people's legs.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Yes, Exactly.

[Bobiam]

There is no absolute right or wrong concerning the clutch/starter interlock. I've had plenty of cars that work one way or the other. It's really about how much risk one is willing to accept. Where there is no downside to minimizing risk, it makes sense to do so. For me there is no downside to interlocking the clutch and starter, so I prefer it that way to minimize risk. For others, it is inconvenient or intolerable to have the interlock. They have their reasons and are willing to accept a little more risk and believe that they adequately compensate for it. Time will tell.

I have bypassed some safety features in various circumstances. At times I feel they don't apply to my particular situation, or that they they are so inconvenient that they are worth removing and accepting additional risk. With many standards that are forced upon us, there is some statistical reason for it's existence. We rarely learn what stats caused the standard to be formulated. Maybe the best that we can do is do a bit of deep thinking as to why the standard (interlock) was imposed upon us to determine if the problem really applies to us and to what degree.