Older Man - accessing clutch switch and or ignition switch

[Ricurb]

Ok you " younger set " please be kind to my post LOL

I am a 65 yr old man with a bit of a back problem but too cheap to not do this repair myself LOL

2004 986 Boxster - When I turn ignition switch all dash lights come on but no noise of of starter trying to crank.

I figured it is either the clutch safety switch or the ignition electrical switch . I have seen great post on replacing both. I am fairly handy but having a devil of a time getting under dash to gain access.

Is there any trick to this .

Would removing the front seat help me ?

For those that have done it any advice would be appreciative

Remember "be kind to the elderly" LOL

Thanks in advance for your help gang

Rick

[blue62]

Originally Posted by Ricurb

Ok you " younger set " please be kind to my post LOL

I am a 65 yr old man with a bit of a back problem but too cheap to not do this repair myself LOL

2004 986 Boxster - When I turn ignition switch all dash lights come on but no noise of of starter trying to crank.

I figured it is either the clutch safety switch or the ignition electrical switch . I have seen great post on replacing both. I am fairly handy but having a devil of a time getting under dash to gain access.

Is there any trick to this .

Would removing the front seat help me ?

For those that have done it any advice would be appreciative

Remember "be kind to the elderly" LOL

Thanks in advance for your help gang

Rick

There is a starter relay in one of the relay panels in the rear trunk.
I would check or replace it with a known good relay first.
They are a very common relay cost 7-10 bucks at most auto parts stores.

As to your clutch switch do you have a grand child or younger person that could assist you? Getting in there even with the seat removed is still tight.
Also removing the seat "can" lead to problems with the airbag "fault warning" if you turn on the ignition with the seat removed.

[NewArt]

Hell man, compared to me you're a youngster! I did this one time at the track when my car wouldn't start: just clipped that mother off and twisted the wires together. I mean, do you ever try to start your car while in gear without putting in the clutch? Me neither. It will be way more work removing the seat than kneeling on the ground beside the car. Maybe jack that side of the car up a bit might help?

[Ricurb]

Originally Posted by blue62

There is a starter relay in one of the relay panels in the rear trunk.
I would check or replace it with a known good relay first.
They are a very common relay cost 7-10 bucks at most auto parts stores.

As to your clutch switch do you have a grand child or younger person that could assist you? Getting in there even with the seat removed is still tight.
Also removing the seat "can" lead to problems with the airbag "fault warning" if you turn on the ignition with the seat removed.

Blue62-

Thanks good suggestion. I will pull that relay and try that route first. That I can gain access too LOL

Fingers crossed.

[Burg Boxster]

Originally Posted by NewArt

Hell man, compared to me you're a youngster! I did this one time at the track when my car wouldn't start: just clipped that mother off and twisted the wires together. I mean, do you ever try to start your car while in gear without putting in the clutch? Me neither. It will be way more work removing the seat than kneeling on the ground beside the car. Maybe jack that side of the car up a bit might help?

^ this (can also just create a little jumper wire to test once you unplug if you want have there...)

Good luck

[Gilles]

Rick,

You may want to check the cable from the + on the battery post to the firewall, where attaches into a post from the power box behind the globe compartment.

Good luck!

[BrokenLinkage]

I have done both.
Re the ignition switch: I found with my back arched very uncomfortably and my entire body weight resting on my back across the door sill, I could just barely squeeze my head and one still mobile arm into the space necessary to see and access that set screw on the ignition switch. Ignoring the claustrophobic aspect of nearly being "stuck" in this confined and contorted position, the real problem was, once my head was in position to see the screw, it was too close for my eyes to focus. So I borrowed a pair of my wife's readers. But guess what, they didn't fit so well under there & kept getting knocked off / pushed sideways by all the other crap under there, just as I would get my head into position.
I have a cheap inspection cam that let me see the target screw clearly from a more normal body position, but my arms lacked the reach and articulation to follow the stalk of the camera up there to the screw and in fact I found it hard to get the stalk and my arm up there at the same time.
Solution - my then 11 yr old gymnast daughter walked by to ask me if I would take her and a friend to a water park. "Well Sweetie, do you see this screw with the red stuff on it right here in the camera....?"
If I had it to do over: top down, battery disconnected & seat out, sock feet to be nice to my car, piece of plywood and mover's blanket over sill to be nice to my back, smallest reading glasses I can find, 3 dimensional car anatomy memorized from diagrams and inspection cam ; OR just remove more stuff and come at the darn thing from the side like I should have done to begin with!

[Ricurb]

UPDATE-

Thanks to all - I did take out the starter relay and jumped the two thick wires , depressed the clutch and Voila the starter cranked over.

Now off to the auto store to get the starter relay .

Thanks to you all , I sure saved from aggravation from having to contort myself underneath the driver well. I have a bit of an arthritic back and would have been a struggle but would have tried until I had to waive the "white flag " LOL

Blue62 again thanks for the thought of the starter relay . Did not even think of that embarrassingly so.

Everyone have a good day in "Boxsterville"

Rick

[78F350]

Originally Posted by BrokenLinkage

I have done both.
..., it was too close for my eyes to focus. So I borrowed a pair of my wife's readers. But guess what, they didn't fit so well under there & kept getting knocked off / pushed sideways by all the other crap under there, just as I would get my head into position.
...

Bifocal safety googles changed my (garage) life. I'm almost 60 and still have better than 20/20 vision, but my near vision has been slowly going away for the last 10 years. About 5 years ago I quit trying to use readers when I needed near vision in the garage and changed over to bifocal safety goggles. I put them on when I enter the garage or start working in the yard and often forget I'm wearing them.

[Tailwind]

I figured out how to access the ignition switch without getting under the dash.
See my pics on this post:

http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/75214-possible-ignition-switch-issue.html

[blue62]

Originally Posted by Ricurb

UPDATE-

Thanks to all - I did take out the starter relay and jumped the two thick wires , depressed the clutch and Voila the starter cranked over.

Now off to the auto store to get the starter relay .

Thanks to you all , I sure saved from aggravation from having to contort myself underneath the driver well. I have a bit of an arthritic back and would have been a struggle but would have tried until I had to waive the "white flag " LOL

Blue62 again thanks for the thought of the starter relay . Did not even think of that embarrassingly so.

Everyone have a good day in "Boxsterville"

Rick

Glad to hear it was an easy fix.
Simplest things first, wins again