GBX

Who's 993 will start without pressing the clutch? My '96 does. Just realized this the other day, since depressing the clutch on cars to start them has been embedded in my brain.

Is this an issue with the microswitch or did certain years not have this safety feature?

Mr.Woolery

It's likely the clutch micro switch is either stuck or someone just bypassed it.

Gbos1

Mine is a 96' C4S and it also starts without depressing the clutch.

OverBoosted28

97' was the first year of that nonsense.

gt3'er

In my '97, the switch was malfunctioning intermittently. So I bypassed it.

goofballdeluxe

My 1996 C4S starts without needing to press the clutch. Thank goodness.

nine9six

...As does my 96 C2

ilko

There is a microswitch on 97+ cars that can easily be jumpered.

On 997s it's actually a known weak point, the microswitch fails and leaves you stranded.

pp000830

As does my 96, at least they never added those electric garage door opener seat belts attached to the doors the VW had on their cars for a while. Our cars came from a period where the primary piece of safety equipment was the operator of the vehicle. I guess the having-to-put-you-foot-on-the-peddle on 97' on cars was the very beginning of the end of this in modern automotive technology.

fsa

Thought depressing the clutch is a safety feature, in case the car's inadvertently or deliberately in gear when started?

enjoytheride

My '96 also starts without the clutch depressed.

I vaguely remember someone's blurb on here about how it's actually preferable to start without the clutch pedal depressed... something about how the force from the pressure plate is hard on the crankshaft bearings during startup.

NC TRACKRAT

Yeah, it's a "safety feature". Yet another instance of "Big Brother" looking out for clueless drivers. As stated above, failure of that microswitch can leave you stranded with a vehicle that won't start. Just after getting the C2S a few years ago, it began to intermittently not start. Thanks to this forum, I realized this was the culprit, by-passed it and it hasn't failed to start since. (knock on wood!)

BobbyT

enjoytheride,

I've also been taught to start the engine with gearbox in neutral, clutch out. Having the clutch in puts excessive pressure on cold, poorly lubricated bearings.

I was also taught to select neutral and take my foot off the clutch at traffic lights, to reduce clutch wear.

Not sure of the accuracy of these ideas, but old habits die hard.

Andy Hodapp

I don't think you are preventing wear on the clutch as is should not be hitting the flywheel when disengaged. You are prolonging the life of the throw out bearing though.