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Clutch safety switch?

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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 12:53 PM
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Clutch safety switch?

Went out to start my truck this AM, and nothing! Good power in the batteries, shorting out the solenoid cranked the engine, but nothing when pushing in the clutch and turning the key. Anybody ever replace one of these "3-function" crap switches on the clutch slave pushrod? Maybe related: about 3 months ago, I did the Heim joint thing on the clutch to get rid of the cheap plastic bushings (that I replaced twice in a year), and the cruise control stopped working.

Any advice is appreciated. Is there a way to systematically short out that clutch switch under there to figure out if it is that or the ignition switch?
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Kleenax
Went out to start my truck this AM, and nothing! Good power in the batteries, shorting out the solenoid cranked the engine, but nothing when pushing in the clutch and turning the key. Anybody ever replace one of these "3-function" crap switches on the clutch slave pushrod? Maybe related: about 3 months ago, I did the Heim joint thing on the clutch to get rid of the cheap plastic bushings (that I replaced twice in a year), and the cruise control stopped working.

Any advice is appreciated. Is there a way to systematically short out that clutch switch under there to figure out if it is that or the ignition switch?
There should be 4 wires on the switch. Light green and red/light green are for the cruise control. Red/light blue and Red/light blue are for the start interlock.
Jump the two red/light blue wires to bypass the switch.

Jason
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 04:04 PM
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Yes, the cruise control is wired into the same clutch switch afaik, but I don't know exactly how it works (had to do similar wiring on a ranger once). I suspect the problems could be related.

Maybe some one has a wiring diagram they could share because I don't have any wiring diagrams of that era of truck.
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 04:23 PM
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Thanks Jason; I will try that. I really don't think it's the ignition switch since everything else works with the ignition.
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 06:21 PM
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There is a collar on the clutch rod that pushes the switch.
That collar self adjusts, so you heims joint install probably has it out of place.

Yours is probably needing to be slid toward the switch
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 07:03 PM
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jumpering the switch is the easiest and cheapest means to get by the problem you're having. did it on my '90 and it's no problem to do. the only caveat is that you have to remember that IT WILL NOW START IN GEAR. not a problem unless you have a wife/girlfriend that doesn't quite grasp that concept. LOL

speedrdr
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 07:07 PM
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If you have cruise control, you need to fix the switch or the cruise will not disengage when you hit the clutch to shift gears.
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Dave Sponaugle
If you have cruise control, you need to fix the switch or the cruise will not disengage when you hit the clutch to shift gears.
yeah, didn't think about that because my cruise wasn't working (all the electrical lines were disconnected and tied to the frame) so it wasn't a
consideration with mine

speedrdr
 
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 11:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Dave Sponaugle
There is a collar on the clutch rod that pushes the switch.
That collar self adjusts, so you heims joint install probably has it out of place.

Yours is probably needing to be slid toward the switch
Hmmm; I specifically looked for some kind of "indicator" type of device like a collar,a stop, something......and didn't see anything like that at all.

I even looked that clutch rod over really well, wondering "how in the heck" does the switch know when to go on-n-off. I have seen linear motors with proximity type switches within an actuating rod like that, but I just "knew" that Ford wouldn't have went to THAT length in a clutch rod! Nope; never saw any type of collar there. Now, I will just have to crawl back under that steering column and tear it apart again :-(

I have to replace the slave master & cylinder anyway (getting bleed-by I believe...), so maybe I'll wait until then.
 
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