Car won't start!...and it's not the Steering Lock...

JRHollywood · 01-26-2015, 11:59 AM

Don't suppose you remember which way you turn the locking nut to loosen it? I have the harness disconnected, but that locking nut behind the bracket doesn't want to turn. The hanging metal bracket its all attached to is getting moved back and forth which isn't great, so I tried holding it in place with vice grips while i work on the locking nut. Doesn't help Im not sure which way to go.

Just put some WD 40 on it, if someone happens to know which way it might help the cause some though, thanks in advance.

Here's a pic looking at it, when looking towards front of the car, the locking nut is on the inside of this. Clockwise or counter clockwise when looking this way?

FairladyZ10PG · 03-10-2015, 02:25 PM

I have the same issue & I'm going to have my clutch interlock switch with a new one by the same mechanic that replaced my CSC and master cylinder.

He's charging me $100 otd for parts & labor.

Anyone else think this is too much?

kenchan · 03-10-2015, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRHollywood

Here's a pic looking at it, when looking towards front of the car, the locking nut is on the inside of this. Clockwise or counter clockwise when looking this way?

kenchan · 03-10-2015, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairladyZ10PG

I have the same issue & I'm going to have my clutch interlock switch with a new one by the same mechanic that replaced my CSC and master cylinder.

He's charging me $100 otd for parts & labor.

Anyone else think this is too much?

why dont u try cleaning it with some rc car motor spray?

dat's the first tool i would use to clean it after removing the switch from the car that is.

FairladyZ10PG · 03-10-2015, 02:44 PM

I was already stranded once and don't plan on another one lol

Rather have a professional deal with this

Is RC motorspray the solution for everything? Haha

kenchan · 03-10-2015, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairladyZ10PG

I was already stranded once and don't plan on another one lol

Rather have a professional deal with this

Is RC motorspray the solution for everything? Haha

almost! i clean my stove top with it too. lol

yah, they usually just need the switch contacts cleaned the lubed with some switch lube or even a light coat of WD40 would work.

WD40 is great for fixing intermittent contact failures. like on my musical instruments that use 1/4" jacks and plugs, i coat it just a tad to prevent scratchy noises when they turn. same with sliders and pots, headphone inputs, etc.

FairladyZ10PG · 03-11-2015, 07:35 PM

Ok just want to share

I was playing with the clutch interlock switch yesterday. Pressed it a few dozen times and tried to clean the contact point with my finger.

Since then my car is starting up like new

Going to hold up replacing it w/ a new one until this stops working

wheee! · 03-12-2015, 07:30 AM

New ones have the exact same issue eventually... It is the switch design that needs to be changed. The contacts are too susceptible to oxidization and debris ingress in the footwell area.

Sent from my iPizzle ringy dingy device....

Tcordero333 · 04-12-2015, 12:47 PM

I havnt done anything to my steering wheel and mine does the same thing. It's like my clutch isn't all the way to the ground or some tepid ****! ... Anyone know what's going on?

JaviZ · 05-04-2015, 02:10 PM

Guys, is there a DIY on removing and cleaning the clutch switch? If so, can't find it.

I've been having the intermittent starting problem for the last 6 months or so. I'm sick of it. Looks like this could be my problem cuz I get the clutch display on the cluster when it doesn't fire up. Steering Lock fuse has been removed and symptoms are exactly the same as described in this thread.

JaviZ · 05-04-2015, 09:53 PM

Never mind. Didn't have to remove anything. Took a cleaning towel and wiped the top of the switch. Made sure to get all around the little black knob. Car has fired up 10 times in a row now without an issue.

FairladyZ10PG · 07-10-2015, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairladyZ10PG

Ok just want to share

I was playing with the clutch interlock switch yesterday. Pressed it a few dozen times and tried to clean the contact point with my finger.

Since then my car is starting up like new

Going to hold up replacing it w/ a new one until this stops working

^Just a quick update: This method worked fine until about 2 weeks ago and the same problem has resurfaced.

I just had a shop replace the clutch interlock switch to a new one and the problem still exists.

The shop guys think it might be a problem with the wire that leads to the switch but they don't know for sure. Truly annoying!

stealth23 · 08-13-2015, 01:11 AM

Im having a hard time unscrewing the dam thing, is there an easier method to remove it ? please let me know, getting tired of taking 10min just to start the car.

kenchan · 08-13-2015, 09:31 AM

If my car had that problem i would be opening up that momentary switch and blasting the internals with RC car motor spray (or basically electronics contact cleaner). then coating the contact lightly with WD40.

that said if u cant' remove it, why not just wrap it with a paper towel and go to town with contact cleaner spray? just let it sit a few min to let the product dry inside.

stealth23 · 08-13-2015, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

If my car had that problem i would be opening up that momentary switch and blasting the internals with RC car motor spray (or basically electronics contact cleaner). then coating the contact lightly with WD40.

that said if u cant' remove it, why not just wrap it with a paper towel and go to town with contact cleaner spray? just let it sit a few min to let the product dry inside.

ill try that out

03-10-2015, 02:25 PM	#77 (permalink)
FairladyZ10PG A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SoCal-IE Posts: 1,890 Drives: PGraphite m6 Rep Power: 254	I have the same issue & I'm going to have my clutch interlock switch with a new one by the same mechanic that replaced my CSC and master cylinder. He's charging me $100 otd for parts & labor. Anyone else think this is too much? __________________ ///MPPSK///M Performance FRONT SPLITTER///M Performance KIDNEY GRILLS///MPerformance CF MIRRORS///MPerformance CF SPOILER///AC SCHNITZER

03-10-2015, 02:44 PM	#80 (permalink)
FairladyZ10PG A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SoCal-IE Posts: 1,890 Drives: PGraphite m6 Rep Power: 254	I was already stranded once and don't plan on another one lol Rather have a professional deal with this Is RC motorspray the solution for everything? Haha kenchan likes this. __________________ ///MPPSK///M Performance FRONT SPLITTER///M Performance KIDNEY GRILLS///MPerformance CF MIRRORS///MPerformance CF SPOILER///AC SCHNITZER

03-11-2015, 07:35 PM	#82 (permalink)
FairladyZ10PG A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SoCal-IE Posts: 1,890 Drives: PGraphite m6 Rep Power: 254	Ok just want to share I was playing with the clutch interlock switch yesterday. Pressed it a few dozen times and tried to clean the contact point with my finger. Since then my car is starting up like new Going to hold up replacing it w/ a new one until this stops working JaviZ and 1991Z32 like this. __________________ ///MPPSK///M Performance FRONT SPLITTER///M Performance KIDNEY GRILLS///MPerformance CF MIRRORS///MPerformance CF SPOILER///AC SCHNITZER

03-12-2015, 07:30 AM	#83 (permalink)
wheee! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mod Capital of Canada Age: 57 Posts: 7,354 Drives: cars. lots of cars. Rep Power: 40181	New ones have the exact same issue eventually... It is the switch design that needs to be changed. The contacts are too susceptible to oxidization and debris ingress in the footwell area. Sent from my iPizzle ringy dingy device.... __________________ H&R / Stillen / Berk / HKS / Swift / Michelin / UpRev / SPC / Amuse Rep / Seibon / Fringe XVO / TWM / more... My Journal

05-04-2015, 02:10 PM	#85 (permalink)
JaviZ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Riverside, CA Age: 38 Posts: 159 Drives: 2010 Nismo Rep Power: 12	Guys, is there a DIY on removing and cleaning the clutch switch? If so, can't find it. I've been having the intermittent starting problem for the last 6 months or so. I'm sick of it. Looks like this could be my problem cuz I get the clutch display on the cluster when it doesn't fire up. Steering Lock fuse has been removed and symptoms are exactly the same as described in this thread. Last edited by JaviZ; 05-04-2015 at 02:49 PM.

04-12-2015, 12:47 PM	#84 (permalink)
Tcordero333 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: San marcos Posts: 4 Drives: 2009 370z nismo #28 Rep Power: 10	I havnt done anything to my steering wheel and mine does the same thing. It's like my clutch isn't all the way to the ground or some tepid ****! ... Anyone know what's going on?

05-04-2015, 09:53 PM	#86 (permalink)
JaviZ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Riverside, CA Age: 38 Posts: 159 Drives: 2010 Nismo Rep Power: 12	Never mind. Didn't have to remove anything. Took a cleaning towel and wiped the top of the switch. Made sure to get all around the little black knob. Car has fired up 10 times in a row now without an issue. FairladyZ10PG and 1991Z32 like this.

08-13-2015, 01:11 AM	#88 (permalink)
stealth23 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 73 Drives: 09 370z Sports pkg 6 Rep Power: 10	Im having a hard time unscrewing the dam thing, is there an easier method to remove it ? please let me know, getting tired of taking 10min just to start the car.

08-13-2015, 09:31 AM	#89 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	If my car had that problem i would be opening up that momentary switch and blasting the internals with RC car motor spray (or basically electronics contact cleaner). then coating the contact lightly with WD40. that said if u cant' remove it, why not just wrap it with a paper towel and go to town with contact cleaner spray? just let it sit a few min to let the product dry inside.

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