Feld

997.2 turbo has been progressively harder to start due to malfunctioning safety switch, dash would say depress clutch pedal. Not a big deal switch is $19.00, meantime I unplugged switch and the car functions like it should. It only starts with clutch depressed in gear or neutral. So my question is What the is the switch for????

Feld

Anyone have any theories?

Bxstr

I believe that it is just a safety mechanism so that you cant just turn the key to start it and have the car in gear and have it go forward. Just like on the automatic cars you have to depress the brake to start the car. It isnt a huge deal, but if you went to sell your car, I would recommend plugging it in for the next owner since it is a safety concern. I would replace the switch either way.

Kevin

Safety.. So that you don't start the car in gear and it doesn't go thru your garage wall.

Regardless, I have disabled mine. I want to reduce the engine start up wear on the engine thrust bearing (don't have to press the clutch to start).

Feld

You guys are misunderstanding, after unplugging the car still will not start unless you push clutch in as before. But there is an update I just drove it and it disabled my Drivers start assistance which is where the car would not roll back on an incline with clutch in. So I guess I will need to replace since there is a red exclamation mark lit up on dash.

lliejk

If you disabled (or jumpered) the clutch switch it should NOT ask you to depress the clutch. I have done this in the process of troubleshooting my no start situation.

Ed

Feld

Since I unplugged the switch it is not asking to depress the clutch, it was doing that when plugged in and it took several tries to get it started getting progressively worse. I just think it is strange the car is starting as it should with the switch unplugged, I thought unplugging would either not allow the car to start or it would start without pressing clutch.

lliejk

Yes, that is what should be happening along with the "Depress Clutch" message. Something doesn't make sense. It's the whitish connector you popped off, right?

Feld

The switch I unplugged is the red and black one, it only seems to have disabled the drive off assistant which holds the car on an incline with clutch in. The clutch safety mechanism is working fine with it unplugged which is puzzling. And it starts fine now every time.

pfbz

Sounds to me like you unplugged the wrong switch? I know on 996's there are two, not sure about 997.

See if your cruise control disengages with the clutch, I think that's the second switch on 996's.

lliejk

I agree, I think the red connector is the one for the brake pedal? I have to dive back under to confirm, but I had to remove that switch to install my new ignition switch, however I did not try and run the car without it, so unlike the clutch switch, I do not have firsthand experience with what happens when it is disconnected.

Looking back on your thread, basically jumpering the white switch on the clutch arm will eliminate the message "Depress Clutch" if the switch was your problem and not some wiring or other issue upstream from the switch. When this is jumpered you should NOT have to depress the clutch to start the car.

Why the brake switch would affect starting I am not sure, typically brake switches are to engage the brake lights and knock off the cruise control but the Porsche guys may be doing something more with that signal, however at start, I cannot imagine what.

Ed

Feld

Appreciate the feedback will take another look to see if my brake lights function properly. When I looked up the clutch safety switch at Suncoast it looks just like the switch I unplugged.

Thanks,

Frank

Feld

Here is a pic of the switch unplugged.

lliejk

The white one (still connected) is the clutch switch, jumpering it requires creating a spaded wire loop that you insert into the wires you pull off the white switch.

The red switch should be the brake pedal switch.

Ed

pfbz

Borrowed from another thread...