Don't need to press the clutch down to start the car...

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

So I just noticed today that I don’t need to press the clutch down to start the car.
At first I thought maybe it has to do with LA that I got last month but Saki tells me his S4 with LA still needed the clutch to be pressed down. Have there been any changes to LA recently?

And cruise control works perfectly fine so it shouldn’t be a clutch sensor (holds the speed just fine and pressing the clutch down stops it just as it should).

Weird…

Any thoughts? It’s not really a bothering me but I’d like to know in case it’s something bigger. I don’t think it has anything to do with my clutch pedal sticking at WOT but who knows.

#2

Will the car still start if it’s in gear?

#3

in my experience itll lurch forward but not start

axel, does the depress clutch message come up? I’d check the clutch position sensor/wiring to make sure it wasnt shorted

#4

I don’t believe the warning is there. Where’s the clutch sensor wiring? Is it somewhere in the driver’s side wheel well? I ask because I recently drove over my mudguard, thus ripping my entire inner fender liner off. Could have pulled other stuff with it I guess.

#5

There are two switches and they’re both by the pedal assembly.Couldn’t tell you which one needs to be replaced in your case

#6

Your car is now euro spec :wink:

I had no idea North American 3 pedal cars needed the clutch to be pressed in before they would start. In 2001, I had to pick up my cousin’s Evo 8. I couldn’t start it, thought it was broken, called AAA who started it first time and showed me the clutch “trick”. LOL.

#7

iirc the warning turns off when its depressed so that may be an indication

someone with a bentley manual should be able to give you a wiring diagram

iirc this switch, versus the clutch vacuum vent which turns off the cruise control, is just a simple limit switch and should either be open or battery voltage, I believe clutch depressed will equal closed. If you pull off the lower dash cover and locate the switch, pull the switch off and test the pins with a multimeter. Potential across the 2 pins should be battery voltage when keyed on, if its not I’d suspect wiring damage.

#8

I say leave it. My switch has gone out twice now, once with the PO and now with me. Except mine stops working when its really cold out. Mine doesn’t recognize the clutch input though… So in the morning when I’m late for work, I end up pumping the clutch like a madman, trying to get the car to recognize that the clutch is being pressed so I can start the car.

If I could get some time to get in there, I would just hardwire it.

#9

Yeah, if it’s nothing serious and won’t cause any harm, I’d rather leave it as is rather than mess with more crap.

#10

just be sure that cruise control stills shuts off when you clutch in, that should be the other switch but best to make sure.

only issue I forsee is passing tech at strict drag strips

#11

Lol tech inspection. My track sees me drive up in an Audi. Asks me to sign the safety form. And tells me to have a nice day.

#12

I guess you skipped to the bottom of the thread hehe. Cruise control works fine.

As for the tech at a drag strip, who cares if the car’s able to start without pressing the clutch?

#13

[quote=“Maddog,post:11,topic:4012”]
Yup same here. They didn’t look a single thing over on mine

#14

yeah missed that.

I believe its a safety concern so if they have to extract you from the car they dont have to worry about it lurching forward. I’m not as lucky as the other guys, new england dragway always checks this in my experience along with everyone else I know who’s gone with a manual.

#15

Same here.

I went to a different track with some other Audis and the guy just asked to make sure that the battery is held tightly in place. Just because he had never seen a B6 before.

#16

That’s the way it should be - it isn’t like you’re hitting any speeds at the strip that you wouldn’t on the Autobahn.

#17

Hmmm, still don’t get it. If they have to extract you from the car and the car is off, why would they turn the car on? They’ll just extract you.

#18

it wouldnt be intentional, as long as the car is still energized it can happen, like airbags letting go well after a collision. Thats why they have the external kill switch regulation at a certain speed.

#19

So what about the cars that don’t require the clutch pressed in to start? And how would they know whether a particular car does or doesn’t have such a feature?

The airbag example is different. You don’t need to actually manually trigger something like a starter. If there’s been an accident, then there’s a chance the airbag might go off later on its own with no intervention. I can see that being a danger to rescue services.

In any case, just like the others mentioned, that’s not something they look for. They quickly glance at the engine bay, see that everything is secure and that’s sufficient for them up here.

#20

at NED they let them pass if its an older car and it cranks over, its at the inspector’s discretion but if its a newer car you’re likely to fail.

My point on the starter is post smashing into a wall at 100+ mph its possible that damaged wiring lets the starter click over. My gf is an EMT and I have multiple friends who work for tow companies, strange things happen post accident.