Oddly my car wouldn't start this morning and I needed a jump for a battery that's a yr old. I live in Denver and I had my car sitting in the lot for 5 days with the low temperatures while I was on vacation. I still don't understand why it died. I had the battery and alternator tested and both checked out as being OK. I guess I'm just going to see how it goes for the rest of the week and see what that trickle charge thing is. How long do our alternators last? My car is a 2011 so 7yrs so far.

 

If you have a meter, you could test the switch to verify operation. Throwing parts at a problem just increases the cost and frustration.

When you push the start button, do you hear a loud click from the engine/starter?

 

I don't have a meter, nor any experience. Funny, because when growing up that kind of approach was exactly in my father's wheelhouse. (He was an engineer.) Insofar as throwing money at something... $20 is a pretty lightweight toss, Sonic.

Pressing the start button cycles the dashboard from one state to the next, every single time. Because of that 100% consistent behavior, I think it's fair to rule out the ignition button itself.

When the starter doesn't engage, there is zero noise. No rattle, no solenoid click, absolutely nothing. The behavior is exactly as if I had neglected to depress the clutch pedal.

So I'm installing the new switch this afternoon, assuming I don't get too old-man frustrated with crawling into the footwell.

 

I was reading this thread yesterday and thought that my car was impervious to this issue. My situation is eerily similar to yours - my engine was warm since I drove the car about 10min to the supermarket. Turned it off and when I started it back up, it failed to idle correctly and I had to give it some gas on the third try. Did cleaning your TBs resolve the issue?

 

Here's the old Clutch Position Sensor:



Looks identical to the new one. The only difference is that the original plunger switch is more, um "gritty" when depressed by hand, and yet less notchy than the new one.

With the new sensor in, and the car bone-cold, the car started on the first press of the ignition button. It then started again on the first press for six more start-up attempts.

At the moment, I'm ecstatic, thinking I solved the problem. Then again, everything was copacetic for about a week after replacing the battery, too. However, that time in early November did coincide with a particularly warm stretch of weather... and temperature is in play on this issue somehow. I think the internal circuitry of the original switch was compromised, and exasperated with cold temps.

Anyway... happy dance!

(for now)

 

That's great news that it was (hopefully) an inexpensive repair. We get plenty of cold weather here in WI like -30 degree windchills last week, but I have not had the same issue... yet.

 

Day after, and I just went on a handful of errands. Every time that I pressed the ignition button with the clutch pedal in, the car started right away at the first attempt. Every time... knock on wood. I know this sounds silly, but it's a pretty good feeling to have the car start when you ask it to, since it's been so frustratingly squirrelly for so long.

Thanks. Here's hoping if someone has a similar problem, that it's as easy a fix as replacing the clutch position sensor.

 

Trust me, I can totally relate to something seemingly simple to fix making you happy when it actually works. This is how I feel every time I corner now that I was able to remove so much junk from under my carpet.

 

Days later, having used my car numerous times since swapping out the sensor... and the car continues to start on the first press of the ignition switch each and every time I use it. I'm sure that soon enough I'll stop being giddy about the car behaving normally, but right now I'm so freaking happy about fixing something that's been making me unhappy about the car for so long.

Anyway... yay! LOL

 

Congrats! Glad to hear you got this fixed, seems it was a simple fix.

 

WTH?! Just had in issue like kickinthegrass. Dropped the family off at a church assembly then came back by the local Walmart. Was inside about 30 minutes or so, enjoying looking around something other than the toy aisles. Went to the G and pushed the button, it started then cut off. My previous issue was the engine not turning over and replaced the battery. Anyway, pushed the starter again and same thing. Fires up....Then dies. Third time I decided to give it a little gas. Kept running but idle seemed off for a few seconds after letting off the gas. Headed home with no problems and once in the garage I turned it off and it restarted fine.