4 spd clutch safety switch
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
4 spd clutch safety switch
I finally got around to investigating why my car will start in gear. The wire is disconnected from the switch. I'm betting there's a reason why considering how hard it is to reach it. Anyone have any tips on how to actually reach it, I want to reconnect the wire just to see what happens, but can't for the life of me figure out how to get my hand in there. The seat is out, and I'm lying on my back but cant' reach it. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
I find this thread funny because I have the same situation. I've been meaning to fix my disconnected wire for about 5 yrs but do not want to break my back trying to get up and under the dash.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I swear it looks like it would be easier to cut a hole in the firewall from under the hood and then go back a patch it. I'm headed out to the garage for another shot at it. Maybe I should try some streching exercises first.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Keizer OR
I had that problem with mine as well. I tried to disconnect it where it connects to other wires in order to troubleshoot why my car wasn't starting at all, and accidentally pulled it out of plug you are talking about. I tried 3 or 4 times, probably a half hour each, and could not get it. Then I pulled the front seat and was finally able to get it after about 10 minutes. What I ended up doing was using this cheap-o $5 multi-tool. It unfolds into a a small needle nose pliers and has a small led light on it. Using that I was able to wiggle into a position where I could reach the plug and with the light I could see what I was aiming for.
HTH.
HTH.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
thanks skeptic. After some searching I found your post in the archives about this same this same thing. I do have a pair of long needlenose pliers that I will try tonight. I bet the switch is bad and that's why it's disconnected, so I'll probably just wind up disconnecting it again and having the fun of figuring out how in the heck to get in there to replace the switch. Don't worry Moosie, no chance of me actually doing something that drastic, but it sure would feel good.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,046
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay Wi
I had the same problem with my '70. When I was on the road I blew the clutch. I could not get the car into gear. On the road car running, thinking it may be linkage, I am checking from the clutch peddle on down. Unable to see a darn thing under there I follow the linkage to the clutch start switch. Tucked in there so nice and sweet. Well in the midst of my blind digging and groping I managed to pull a wire out of the plug. 
Nice.. Once I had determined it was not the linkage but the clutch itself, I could not get the ole girl started, I knew what I did when I was digging around down there... sure enough i needed a needle nose and a flashlight to try and waggle that wire back into the plug. I am just glad the wife could not find the camera to get a picture of that contortionist position head up under the dash, lower back on the front seat, feet sticking up out through the t-top, I am 6'2"
. I do not think I could do it again. Taking the front seat out is definately the way to go.
Nice.. Once I had determined it was not the linkage but the clutch itself, I could not get the ole girl started, I knew what I did when I was digging around down there... sure enough i needed a needle nose and a flashlight to try and waggle that wire back into the plug. I am just glad the wife could not find the camera to get a picture of that contortionist position head up under the dash, lower back on the front seat, feet sticking up out through the t-top, I am 6'2" . I do not think I could do it again. Taking the front seat out is definately the way to go.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Me too. I want mine to start in gear. It saved me two times when the clutch link pin broke rendering the clutch useless. I just started it in gear and drove home that way. (The Muncies shift pretty easily without releasing the clutch once the rpm is matched.)
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton Ontario
You will definitely stretch muscles you didn't know you had getting at it. You may find that once you hook it up the car won't start. When they quit working, a lot of us just bypass it instead of fixing it. I don't plan on ever putting the clutch safety back on mine.
