1989 Clutch switch

[Southern Yankee]

Can I bypass this switch? I have installed a 1996 Explorer 5.0. I am using a M5R2 trans.

 

[Curious Hound]

Are you talking about the switch on the clutch pedal that prevents you from starting the truck without the clutch disengaged? Why would you want to bypass that? It's there for your safety and 99% of the time it's a good idea.

To answer your question, yes. It can be bypassed. I would not recommend it.

 

[Southern Yankee]

Yes. I understand the purpose as i drive several cars with manuals and first thing I always do is depress the clutch pedal. I understand the safety purpose for sure. How exactly does it work?
Right now, it is just sitting on the clutch pedal rod and nothing is holding it in place. I suppose there should be a type a clip to hold it in place?

 

[Curious Hound]

I'll go out and look at mine in a little while.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Find an automatic version of what you have, they have a shunt that plugs into where the clutch switch plugs in.

My clutch switch died the other day, I was glad I had thrown the shunt from my automatic days in the glove box so I wasn't completely dead in the water.

I will be replacing the switch though, I do like having it.

 

[Southern Yankee]

What is a shunt? Sound like you plug in a automatic thing to cleanly bypass the clutch switch. Is that what you are saying?

 

[Curious Hound]

Shunt is a fancy word for jumper. In other words, that blank plug might not be a blank plug. There might be wire(s) molded into it that make an electrical connection so that the circuit thinks the missing switch is made.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What is a shunt? Sound like you plug in a automatic thing to cleanly bypass the clutch switch. Is that what you are saying?

Yup.

Automatic trucks don't have a clutch switch so they have the shunt to bypass the switch. There are more things tied into the clutch switch than just clutch things. IMO every manual owner needs to pick one up to have in case their switch gives up on them. I really like the switch because after 18 years of the truck being an automatic I am scared of an "oops"





Installed:



The switch clips onto the clutch shaft. It grabs the shaft and when the switch body hits the master cylinder the inner part of the switch is moved as it holds on to the shaft.