"Depress clutch pedal" - I'm already bl**dy depressing it!
Discussion
I'm guessing this is the same on all modern Porsches with manual gearbox- you have to press the clutch pedal to start the car.
Mine has developed an annoying fault whereby it sometimes won't start even with the clutch pressed fully down. Starter motor doesn't spin, and a message appears on the dash saying 'depress clutch pedal' or something like that. It will eventually start after brutal mashing of the pedal into the carpet. I guess there's a switch down there somewhere that needs replacing or adjusting.
Anyone else hasd this fault?
Mine has developed an annoying fault whereby it sometimes won't start even with the clutch pressed fully down. Starter motor doesn't spin, and a message appears on the dash saying 'depress clutch pedal' or something like that. It will eventually start after brutal mashing of the pedal into the carpet. I guess there's a switch down there somewhere that needs replacing or adjusting.
Anyone else hasd this fault?
Edited by telford_mike on Monday 1st August 15:33
Thanks all. Car is still under manufacturers warranty (2010 Cayman), but with my OPC if I don't tell them exactly how to fix the problem they'll just say they couldn't find the fault.
I've been living with the issue for a few months now, but last week on the channel tunnel shuttle I couldn't get the damn thing to start when the time came to disembark. Embarrassing.
I've been living with the issue for a few months now, but last week on the channel tunnel shuttle I couldn't get the damn thing to start when the time came to disembark. Embarrassing.
telford_mike said:
with my OPC if I don't tell them exactly how to fix the problem they'll just say they couldn't find the fault.
Reading OPC? I had two separate problems that took three visits each to rectify. And each time I was asking them to check the same thing. Class.Back on topic - I hope you get it resolved quickly. A car that won't start isn't much fun, unless it's so good looking that you've already got it parked in the living room.
You can adjust the switch yourself until you have time to take it to porsche for them to replace.
You need to get your head under the steering wheel (with your legs out of the car and a mat under your butt on the sill) with a torch. You will find the switch under there and you will see/feel a little piece of metal resting on the clutch pedal lever that is pushed into the switch when the clutch pedal is pressed down, this activates the switch. You need to bend this bit of metal towards the pedal lever, so that it gets depressed fully when the clutch is depressed. Then it will work again until it gets bent out of shape again.
Must say it's a crap design and is very annoying when it goes wrong. OPC will replace it for you... but figure it out yourself also so if you need to adjust it in future you can.
You need to get your head under the steering wheel (with your legs out of the car and a mat under your butt on the sill) with a torch. You will find the switch under there and you will see/feel a little piece of metal resting on the clutch pedal lever that is pushed into the switch when the clutch pedal is pressed down, this activates the switch. You need to bend this bit of metal towards the pedal lever, so that it gets depressed fully when the clutch is depressed. Then it will work again until it gets bent out of shape again.
Must say it's a crap design and is very annoying when it goes wrong. OPC will replace it for you... but figure it out yourself also so if you need to adjust it in future you can.
S1MMA said:
You can adjust the switch yourself until you have time to take it to porsche for them to replace.
You need to get your head under the steering wheel (with your legs out of the car and a mat under your butt on the sill) with a torch. You will find the switch under there and you will see/feel a little piece of metal resting on the clutch pedal lever that is pushed into the switch when the clutch pedal is pressed down, this activates the switch. You need to bend this bit of metal towards the pedal lever, so that it gets depressed fully when the clutch is depressed. Then it will work again until it gets bent out of shape again.
Must say it's a crap design and is very annoying when it goes wrong. OPC will replace it for you... but figure it out yourself also so if you need to adjust it in future you can.
Just had a go at this - awkward job or what?!! Many thanks for the tip - the car now starts every time You need to get your head under the steering wheel (with your legs out of the car and a mat under your butt on the sill) with a torch. You will find the switch under there and you will see/feel a little piece of metal resting on the clutch pedal lever that is pushed into the switch when the clutch pedal is pressed down, this activates the switch. You need to bend this bit of metal towards the pedal lever, so that it gets depressed fully when the clutch is depressed. Then it will work again until it gets bent out of shape again.
Must say it's a crap design and is very annoying when it goes wrong. OPC will replace it for you... but figure it out yourself also so if you need to adjust it in future you can.
First service due next month so I'll get it looked at properly.My 987 Boxster has this problem, intermittently. It is preceded by the oil level countdown and then depress clutch message and so takes some time to infuriate you.
It seems to be related to the time between putting key in lock and turning it - putting seatbelts on, or perhaps unlatching the roof.
It seems to be related to the time between putting key in lock and turning it - putting seatbelts on, or perhaps unlatching the roof.
Had the same problem last year just before I was due to drive across France and didn't want it failing whilst abroad.
There are two switches mounted on the clutch lever mechanism, a red bodied plunger switch and alongside it a light grey unit with a stainless steel lever. It is the grey lever switch that fails.
Looking up in the drivers foot well the grey switch cannot be seen directly as there is a black plastic air out let duct in the way, the end of the red switch and the wiring to both is visible. However if the steering column is lifted to its full height the switch is visible with the aid of a torch through the gap between the shroud and the lower dash panel.
Real pain to get at and might not be the same on yours (mine is 09 GenII Boxster) but had to remove the ducting first.
The switch doesn’t have to be removed, but to start the engine the two wires on the spade terminals need to be connected to each other.
Mine been running like this since, I haven’t sourced a new switch yet and don’t know if I’ll bother as a Porsche one will probably fail again, though I don’t suppose they are that expensive.
Cheers,
Simon.
There are two switches mounted on the clutch lever mechanism, a red bodied plunger switch and alongside it a light grey unit with a stainless steel lever. It is the grey lever switch that fails.
Looking up in the drivers foot well the grey switch cannot be seen directly as there is a black plastic air out let duct in the way, the end of the red switch and the wiring to both is visible. However if the steering column is lifted to its full height the switch is visible with the aid of a torch through the gap between the shroud and the lower dash panel.
Real pain to get at and might not be the same on yours (mine is 09 GenII Boxster) but had to remove the ducting first.
The switch doesn’t have to be removed, but to start the engine the two wires on the spade terminals need to be connected to each other.
Mine been running like this since, I haven’t sourced a new switch yet and don’t know if I’ll bother as a Porsche one will probably fail again, though I don’t suppose they are that expensive.
Cheers,
Simon.
The one on my 2009 987 failed last year. Porsche Reading replaced it under warranty, said it was a well known fault. On that basis I asked if Porsche intended to replace the switch with a more robust design but got no answer. Interesting to know it can be over-ridden. I might do that because it's a real PITA and all because Americans can't be bothered to check cars are in neutral before firing them up 
LuckyP said:
Hey PF. Did they contact you about this or were you in with the switch prob? Ta.
Pete.
PetePete.
It went in for other things and when i got there they said that the clutch switch campaign had just happened so they would do that and another one on DME reprogram/update, which was a massive software download from Germany. This was four weeks ago, but I now can't recall what the DME rationale was. Will see if the memory banks are a bit sharper after a morning coffee!
PF
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