Need help w/clutch safety switch...

[nedinwc]

aka the starter clutch interlock.
Called the dealer, they want 85.00 for the switch. So, I'm looking on a site and there are two switches available, but they're very different. Here's the page...
http://cpwstore.carpartswholesale.c...294966840+4294967124&Nr=AND(universal:0)&sv=0

I have a 97 RangerXLT with a 3.0.

What am I seeing here? The motorcraft appears correct, but I'm not pulling the old switch till I have one to replace it. Anyone ever install one of these?

 

[modelageek]

I dont think i will be much help .did you look at the one in your truck. they must have made 2 kinds. you said the motorcraft looked like it. I have not changed one beofre but just by looking at my in the past it looks like it pops right off. are you sure that is your issue. have you tried to pop start it?

 

[nedinwc]

I'm sure it's the switch, sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesnt. Repeatedly pushing on the pedal will usually do it. One wierd thing is when I try to get the switch to engage, the door locks will open and close sometimes. I can't really tell what it looks like under there, hard to see.

 

[modelageek]

I am not trying to send you in the wrong direction but i wonder why your locks would be doing that . are you sure it is not your ignition switch? and you are sure your starter relay is fine? they are only $8

 

[modelageek]

Repeatedly pushing on the pedal will usually do it. One wierd thing is when I try to get the switch to engage, the door locks will open and close sometimes.

I am not sure what you mean. can you sometimes hear the switch when you press on the clutch and sometimes you cant. so you keep pressing the clutch until you hear it and while you are doing this without touching the key the locks start working?

 

[nedinwc]

I'm stepping on the pedal to engage the switch and turning the key when the door locks start shifting around. I'll keep the key turned while pushing on the pedal and with each push I can hear it try and engage. Yes, it's strange and now you have me wondering if it's something else.

 

[modelageek]

someone else will chime in with some advice. it is probably not the starter relay if the locks are acting up. I always just start with the easiest simplest and fairly common solutions first. but i am wondering if it is the ignition switch that is making the locks go up and down. I have pulled those ignition switch off before they are real easy

 

[modelageek]

I think there are 2 things involves that could be the cause . there is the actual lock cylinder that could get goofy and then there is the ignition switch that could get goofy, lets see what some others say. I wonder if next time it happens if you kept the clutch depressed and just fiddled and banged the lock cylinder and the column where the ignition switch is and see if it eventually starts that would eliminate the clutch interlock I think all these parts are easy to change just have to figure out the correct one

 

[nedinwc]

Good suggestion. I'll give it a try.

 

[holyford86]

If it's the second (round style in the pic) it will be clipped around the rod going into the clutch master cylinder, it's easily visible if you look under the dash.