Fix for clutch interlock / safety switch

[mark22elliott]

Ive read many articles on bypassing the clutch interlock / safety switch. Someone had previously bypassed it and the wire fell out so i still had to do the required trouble shooting...


...what i didnt read was why is this a common problem? is there a fix rather than bypassing? a replacement switch seems like a 20 minute swap? the replacement switches dont seem expensive are the aftermarket parts unreliable? can i source a ford OEM part?

appreciate you all saving me the thought process.

 

[SenorNoob]

Definitely no reason not to fix it correctly. It just takes slightly more effort than bypassing, assuming it's bypassed with the factory jumper from an automatic..

It's only a pair of switches in a plastic housing. How bad can the aftermarket ones be?

 

[scotts90ranger]

If it was a common problem I would have had it before and I haven't... My '90 I've had for 25 years and it's been outside for all but like 6 months of that and has probably 300k on the chassis and probably millions of shifts... but yeah, I'd probably change the switch instead of bypass it although my F350 has been bypassed which is handy at times like when the HPOP went out and I used the starter to push it on a trailer...

 

[RobbieD]

What little trouble I've had with the clutch switch over the years hasn't been the switch itself, it's been the clip-on mount needing tweeking to make the switch operable.

 

[mark22elliott]

Definitely no reason not to fix it correctly. It just takes slightly more effort than bypassing, assuming it's bypassed with the factory jumper from an automatic..

It's only a pair of switches in a plastic housing. How bad can the aftermarket ones be?

unfortunately bypassed with an old piece of junk wire that fell out when i closed the hood....

 

[mark22elliott]

What little trouble I've had with the clutch switch over the years hasn't been the switch itself, it's been the clip-on mount needing tweeking to make the switch operable.

good to know thanks.

 

[mark22elliott]

If it was a common problem I would have had it before and I haven't... My '90 I've had for 25 years and it's been outside for all but like 6 months of that and has probably 300k on the chassis and probably millions of shifts... but yeah, I'd probably change the switch instead of bypass it although my F350 has been bypassed which is handy at times like when the HPOP went out and I used the starter to push it on a trailer...

thanks, the bypass option seems fraught with problems based on all the other posts i read. I think i'll just throw an aftermarket switch in there and keep the jumper wire in the glovebox.

 

[bobbywalter]

often times the offroad guys.....we bypass the switches to be ABLE TO RUN THE STARTER IN GEAR.



there are situations you crank the starter instead of unloading and falling off a cliff. though, we also usually have that on a by-pass to keep it safe the rest of the time.