97 Accord clutch pedal switches

In helping a friend get his car running, I see there are two switches activated by the clutch pedal. The upper one is the starter/clutch interlock switch. The lower one - what is that for?

There is apparently a plastic plug of some kind in a hole on the pedal lever for each switch. Both plugs were gone. I put a bolt in the hole for the starter switch, which solved the starting problem, but I find nothing in the service manual about the other switch. Does anyone know about it?

As an aside, of course the starter switch hole was inaccessible without taking the clutch pedal out!

Thanks, R.

Reply to
roger
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This is the cruise control clutch switch. If the cruise control is running, and the driver for some reason pushes the clutch pedal, then the cruise control de-activates.

Those plastic/rubber plugs in the pedal lever arms for the brake and clutch switches break all the time causing either the brake lights or cruise control or both to not work right. I just replaced the (cracked) plug in my brake pedal lever arm. You can buy an assortment of "rubber bumpers" at many aftermarket auto parts stores, and one from the assortment will likely fit, worst case with a little whittling of the rubber plug part. The other day I found a set for $2.29 at Autozone made by Dorman, labeled "rubber bumpers," part #961-375. I put a thumb tack in the top of the one I put in my brake pedal lever arm, thinking it might improve longevity.

Sounds right. I just replaced the clutch master and slave cylinders on my 93 Civic, which means one has to mess a bit with adjusting the clutch pedal. I skipped the step for adjusting the upper switch. But it works fine ( =3D no start without clutch pedal pushed).

Reply to
Elle

Dear Elle,

Thanks for solving that mystery. Looking in the Haynes manual we have, I see the section on checking the cruise control mentions a brake switch, which of course would be for an automatic transmission. It would have been easy enough to label that switch on the clutch pedal diagram!

I'm not sure my friend ever uses the cruise control. He's an old school european plus a bassist. In the early 70's, he just walked away from the Czech symphony when they were on tour, eventually ending up in New Orleans, and he retains a lot of his home-country ways.

Thanks again, Roger.

Reply to
roger

Post-o? Both automatic and manual transmissions have a brake switch that, when the brake pedal is pushed, (1) turns on the brake lights and (2) de-activates cruise control.

Indeed. :-)

My Chilton's is good for a lot of work on my Honda, but for cruise control troubleshooting it is worthless. Sounds like Haynes is just a bit better for cruise control. Cruise control is one area where the shop manual is invaluable.

:-)

Reply to
Elle

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