How To: Disable Clutch to start on 08 Evo X / 10
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How To: Disable Clutch to start on 08 Evo X / 10
How To: Disable Clutch to start on 08 Evo X / 10
WARNING: As always, do at your own risk. No liability, no warranty, etc etc.
Background: The Evo X, as most manual trans vehicles, requires that you depress the clutch to start the car. This is mostly to prevent an attempt at starting the car in gear, which can be bad for the starter and possibly dangerous if something is in the way of the vehicle. Some people prefer to use a remote start which would require defeating this feature and others propose that pushing in the clutch while starting may cause a minor amount of extra wear on some parts.
..... If you are like me, you dump the clutch as soon as the car is started anyway.
We can see from the service manual that the operation of the starter interlock interruption switch has been reversed from the 2g DSM and evo VIII/IX. The system now requires that continuity be made to allow the car to start, rather than the previous setup that required an open circuit to allow the starter relay to be activated. That known, all we have to do is make a connection between these to wires to allow the starter relay to function.
There are 3 obvious options to solve our problem:
A) Make some kind of a PNP connector that will complete the circuit
B) Switch the starter relay from a normally open relay to a normally closed relay (and unplug the clutch interlock wire if you want the car to start when the clutch IS down).
C) Use vampire clips to connect both wires or solder them together (not preferred if you like maintaining the original factory wiring as much as possible.)
Instructions for A):
1. Remove the wire harness from the clutch interlock connector. Lay under the dash on your back and look up, it should be the only connector on the clutch pedal where the harness comes out perpendicular to the movement of the switch, and should not be contacted until the clutch is down. It may help to use a tool to press the lock on the switch down while you pull it up... its cramped in there!
2. Find something suitable to complete the circuit. I used a standard 3x2 pin header (I used to use these for xbox modding) and removed all but 2 pins on one of the long sides. I then pushed the pins so only a small amount was sticking out, bent one of the pins that were pulled out in the shape of a staple, and soldered it to the 2 posts.
3. Insert whatver you have made into the connector. I also ran a zip tie around the connector between the two wires and over the piece I made to make sure it stays in place. I then zip tied it to some wires out of the way to make sure it did not interfere with operation of the clutch.
------
Option B) may or may not be more reliable. I don't expect what I've done to fail, but a production part has a lower rate of failure. Remember, if something goes wrong your car WILL NOT START unless you can plug this back in or somehow short the circuit.
I'll leave the instructions for B) up to you guys, and assume that anyone could perform option C) without instruction.
WARNING: As always, do at your own risk. No liability, no warranty, etc etc.
Background: The Evo X, as most manual trans vehicles, requires that you depress the clutch to start the car. This is mostly to prevent an attempt at starting the car in gear, which can be bad for the starter and possibly dangerous if something is in the way of the vehicle. Some people prefer to use a remote start which would require defeating this feature and others propose that pushing in the clutch while starting may cause a minor amount of extra wear on some parts.
..... If you are like me, you dump the clutch as soon as the car is started anyway.
We can see from the service manual that the operation of the starter interlock interruption switch has been reversed from the 2g DSM and evo VIII/IX. The system now requires that continuity be made to allow the car to start, rather than the previous setup that required an open circuit to allow the starter relay to be activated. That known, all we have to do is make a connection between these to wires to allow the starter relay to function.
There are 3 obvious options to solve our problem:
A) Make some kind of a PNP connector that will complete the circuit
B) Switch the starter relay from a normally open relay to a normally closed relay (and unplug the clutch interlock wire if you want the car to start when the clutch IS down).
C) Use vampire clips to connect both wires or solder them together (not preferred if you like maintaining the original factory wiring as much as possible.)
Instructions for A):
1. Remove the wire harness from the clutch interlock connector. Lay under the dash on your back and look up, it should be the only connector on the clutch pedal where the harness comes out perpendicular to the movement of the switch, and should not be contacted until the clutch is down. It may help to use a tool to press the lock on the switch down while you pull it up... its cramped in there!
2. Find something suitable to complete the circuit. I used a standard 3x2 pin header (I used to use these for xbox modding) and removed all but 2 pins on one of the long sides. I then pushed the pins so only a small amount was sticking out, bent one of the pins that were pulled out in the shape of a staple, and soldered it to the 2 posts.
3. Insert whatver you have made into the connector. I also ran a zip tie around the connector between the two wires and over the piece I made to make sure it stays in place. I then zip tied it to some wires out of the way to make sure it did not interfere with operation of the clutch.
------
Option B) may or may not be more reliable. I don't expect what I've done to fail, but a production part has a lower rate of failure. Remember, if something goes wrong your car WILL NOT START unless you can plug this back in or somehow short the circuit.
I'll leave the instructions for B) up to you guys, and assume that anyone could perform option C) without instruction.
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^ Good thought, actually.
Ideally, a switched setup would be a good way to go, so that for the times you want to remote start/whatever you just leave the switch on. But when you're hitting the track, flick it off.
Ideally, a switched setup would be a good way to go, so that for the times you want to remote start/whatever you just leave the switch on. But when you're hitting the track, flick it off.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12
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From: Belgium
jep.. that would work..
but still wondering why you guy's have an extra safety for starting the car..
thats just weird..
Careful with this one boys, you don't want to wind up like this guy...lol:
Dealer accidentally remote starts customer's Mustang right into a pond?
Dealer accidentally remote starts customer's Mustang right into a pond?
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
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