Car will not start

ROBERT.WEBSTER

MEMBER
1997 MAZDA PROTEGE
230,000 MILES

My car has a manual transmissom and it also has cruise control, the battery is fully charged and all of the lights come on bright. It just will not crank over, the starter will not make any noise at all. I suspect that it is the Starter Interlock Switch, but I have 2 switches on my clutch pedal( one on the top of the pedal and one on the floor board ) and I do not know which one I should replace. Nor do I have any idea how to by pass the one on the floor ( 4 wires as best as I can tell ) and the one on the top I can barely get to. Any suggestions at this time would be helpful as I can not afford to pay someone else to fix it.

Friday, January 6th, 2012 AT 1:34 AM

1 Reply

DRCRANKNWRENCH

MECHANIC
3,380 POSTS

Under the console at the base of the shifter there is another interlock component. Check it for function. As far as the other 2 switches go, use a test light, you can get one for a few bucks at auto store, and see which if the 2 switches has power going in and has power out when actuated.
I am including a diagram of locations.I also included the wiring diagram of the interlock circuit. This way you can see which switch gets the power first and there fore should have power available to it. Then you will have to test the second one with the first on actuated. Take a good look at the circuti and identify parts before you dive in.
Let me know how it goes.

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