Boxster 987 Clutch Pedal Switch
Discussion
Hi folks.
I took my boxster out for a run this afternoon having not used it this week so as the weather had eventually brightened up thought why not.
When I went to start up I got a "depress clutch pedal" warning on the dash, I already was, lifted the pedal and re pressed it a couple of times and away it went.
I understand that there's a switch of sorts, I guess similar to a brake light switch, and I expect it's this causing the issue, thinking back it's done this once before.
Has anybody swapped this switch and if so, is it difficult and approximately what is the cost of the part?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Nigel
I took my boxster out for a run this afternoon having not used it this week so as the weather had eventually brightened up thought why not.
When I went to start up I got a "depress clutch pedal" warning on the dash, I already was, lifted the pedal and re pressed it a couple of times and away it went.
I understand that there's a switch of sorts, I guess similar to a brake light switch, and I expect it's this causing the issue, thinking back it's done this once before.
Has anybody swapped this switch and if so, is it difficult and approximately what is the cost of the part?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Nigel
Coincidentally I'm about to do exactly this to my 987.2 Cayman. The part itself 99761310950 - is £25 - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151396392984
Fitting it is a bit of a pig. You have to get your head in the drivers footwell and lookup upwards to see it above the clutch pedal - not an easy task I found! There's a piece of plastic ducting down there you can remove via a couple of phillips screws (if you can stretch your neck enough to see them), made slightly easier by removing the piece of carpet behind the side knee bolster (there's a hidden nut in there that takes a T30 torx screw). Then you can get a T10 onto the side of the switch and remove it along with the two connectors. While fishing around in there I took this picture from below and in front (you can see the silver T10 screw on the side):
If anyone has an easier way to replace the switch that doesn't require the flexibility of a contortionist I'd like to hear it!
One alternative is to simply crimp the two connectors together so you no longer need to push in the clutch to start the car, although I figured for £25 I'd just replace the switch.
Fitting it is a bit of a pig. You have to get your head in the drivers footwell and lookup upwards to see it above the clutch pedal - not an easy task I found! There's a piece of plastic ducting down there you can remove via a couple of phillips screws (if you can stretch your neck enough to see them), made slightly easier by removing the piece of carpet behind the side knee bolster (there's a hidden nut in there that takes a T30 torx screw). Then you can get a T10 onto the side of the switch and remove it along with the two connectors. While fishing around in there I took this picture from below and in front (you can see the silver T10 screw on the side):
If anyone has an easier way to replace the switch that doesn't require the flexibility of a contortionist I'd like to hear it!
One alternative is to simply crimp the two connectors together so you no longer need to push in the clutch to start the car, although I figured for £25 I'd just replace the switch.
Edited by johnconners on Monday 10th October 12:14
nigelj77 said:
Hi folks.
I took my boxster out for a run this afternoon having not used it this week so as the weather had eventually brightened up thought why not.
When I went to start up I got a "depress clutch pedal" warning on the dash, I already was, lifted the pedal and re pressed it a couple of times and away it went.
I understand that there's a switch of sorts, I guess similar to a brake light switch, and I expect it's this causing the issue, thinking back it's done this once before.
Has anybody swapped this switch and if so, is it difficult and approximately what is the cost of the part?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Nigel
Replaced the switch in my Boxster some few years ago. Brake light switch too. And one other switch. I took my boxster out for a run this afternoon having not used it this week so as the weather had eventually brightened up thought why not.
When I went to start up I got a "depress clutch pedal" warning on the dash, I already was, lifted the pedal and re pressed it a couple of times and away it went.
I understand that there's a switch of sorts, I guess similar to a brake light switch, and I expect it's this causing the issue, thinking back it's done this once before.
Has anybody swapped this switch and if so, is it difficult and approximately what is the cost of the part?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Nigel
Replacing the switch is easy: My technique is to buy the parts at the dealer's parts counter and leave then on the seat with the invoice when I take the car in for some service. The tech will remove the old parts and install the new parts for free as long as I bought the parts there. This works for burned out light bulbs too.
I am pretty certain that this recurring problem is not actually the switch. I have cruise and it always disengages, as soon as I press the clutch. It seems worse if the roof is down Radio ON, but that is how I tend to use it.
The ECU is obviously doing checks before giving permission to fire the engine, I think the clutch pedal is simply the last one. I have found that pressing the brake pedal is a good way to get over it. Turning the ignition key through 180 also has a good chance, with mine.
It is a pain, but I feel sure it is some sort of electrical inbalance in one of the CANBUS components. I have had it checked at service with NFF. It's due again in November, so hopefully, they can look a little further.
The ECU is obviously doing checks before giving permission to fire the engine, I think the clutch pedal is simply the last one. I have found that pressing the brake pedal is a good way to get over it. Turning the ignition key through 180 also has a good chance, with mine.
It is a pain, but I feel sure it is some sort of electrical inbalance in one of the CANBUS components. I have had it checked at service with NFF. It's due again in November, so hopefully, they can look a little further.
I seem to remember that the clutch pedal has 2 switches. One for the immobiliser and one for the ECU. If you look at http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/pt199_1638_-cma81-cm... and click on the "Zoom In" you'll see two switches under the clutch pedal (16 and 17). One looks like your photo, the other does not.
That's right, the one that controls the starting is the white one I've photographed and the red one next to it (which would be the other side so not visible in my photo) I believe is used to disable cruise control. Strange why Porsche didn't use the same type of switch as I've not heard of the red ones failing.
Thanks for your replies, I've spoken to a local specialist who said it's a common fault, I guess they know which switch typically puts this particular fault on, car is booked in for Friday so fingers crossed.
For the sake of half an hours labour I didn't fancy spending however long bent backwards upside down under the steering column.
For the sake of half an hours labour I didn't fancy spending however long bent backwards upside down under the steering column.
Microswitch for engine start is in the above picture. The other switch - looks the same as brake switch- is the cruise control interlock ie drops cuise control when clutch pressed. No idea why they needed 2 switches but hey that's German engineering!
Need to fit both on my Boxster as the previous owner had removed them for some reason - need to make it SWMBO proof;)
Might be easier to access the switch if you remove the lower part of the drivers side dash as well as the heating duct.
Need to fit both on my Boxster as the previous owner had removed them for some reason - need to make it SWMBO proof;)
Might be easier to access the switch if you remove the lower part of the drivers side dash as well as the heating duct.
Having replied to this thread yesterday, I read a lot of other forums on this issue.
The problem exists across the 997/987 range, so I have come to the conclusion that until the depress clutch switch has been replaced, it is pointless considering other possibilities. There has even been a USA recall for this poor quality switch.
I suppose that having two switches is logical, the similar brake and clutch switches need to disengage the cruise and illuminate the brake lights as you start to press them. Whereas the depress clutch needs to be fully depressed to ensure there can be no forward movement as you start the engine. The bite point could be very different across cars of varying age and mileage.
So no discussion, I will ask them to just replace the switch.
The problem exists across the 997/987 range, so I have come to the conclusion that until the depress clutch switch has been replaced, it is pointless considering other possibilities. There has even been a USA recall for this poor quality switch.
I suppose that having two switches is logical, the similar brake and clutch switches need to disengage the cruise and illuminate the brake lights as you start to press them. Whereas the depress clutch needs to be fully depressed to ensure there can be no forward movement as you start the engine. The bite point could be very different across cars of varying age and mileage.
So no discussion, I will ask them to just replace the switch.
Racing rabbit said:
Microswitch for engine start is in the above picture. The other switch - looks the same as brake switch- is the cruise control interlock ie drops cuise control when clutch pressed. No idea why they needed 2 switches but hey that's German engineering!
Need to fit both on my Boxster as the previous owner had removed them for some reason - need to make it SWMBO proof;)
Might be easier to access the switch if you remove the lower part of the drivers side dash as well as the heating duct.
Ignore my post. I didn't read all the posts until after I posted and I see rdjohn covered this above and quite well too.Need to fit both on my Boxster as the previous owner had removed them for some reason - need to make it SWMBO proof;)
Might be easier to access the switch if you remove the lower part of the drivers side dash as well as the heating duct.
The switch to disengage cruise control must do so immediately as the clutch pedal is even slightly depressed to avoid possibly revving the engine.
The switch to signal the DME the clutch is depressed must be at the other end of the clutch pedal's full travel to avoid possibly cranking the engine with the clutch even partially engaged.
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