For safety sake, clutch based vehicles come with a system that requires you to press the clutch so you can start the vehicle. This is great for normal operation, but not really desireable for offroad. i.e. how many times have you been facing up to the sky, stalled the engine, had to push the clutch to start the engine, and had the rig bounce or roll back when you do?
Here's how to bypass the clutch interlock.
*disclaimer* The notes below are for an '03 TJ. Your rig is likely different...check the owners manual.
According to the owner's manual for my '03 TJ, to bypass the clutch interlock, simply pull the spare 20amp fuse from position 19 in the fuse panel behind the glove box and put it in position 20.
That is it. You are done.
However, I wanted to make it a switchable thing where I didn't have to move fuses and whatnot while stalled on a 132 degree incline.
Here's what you'll need. I picked up my stuff at O'Reilly for just under $8 bux.
- 1 box of 20amp fuses (I didn't have any spares...$2.59)
- 1 mini fuse holder ($1.79)
- 1 red rocker switch ($2.99)
also a couple feet of spare 14guage wire and various connectors
The wiring diagram looks as follows:
So...here we go. The full install should take less than 1/2 an hour...
1. Find a good location to mount your switch. I used one of the available ones above the cig lighter.
2. Make sure the mini fuse holder does not have a fuse in it (you'll add that later)
3. Connect the 'power' lead from the rocker switch to one of poles in position 20 of the fuse box
4. Connect the 'accessory' lead from the rocker switch to the mini fuse holder
5. Connect the other side of the mini fuse holder to the other pole of position 20 in the fuse box
NOTE: don't know if it is the best way, but I purposely blew one of the 20amp fuses and wedged it in place to hold the wires in the fuse box. (let me know if you know of a better way...)
6. Connect the 'ground' lead from the rocker switch to a good ground source (I tapped the cig lighter)
7. Put a 20amp fuse in the mini fuse holder.
8. Test it out:
- pull the e-brake
- make sure you are not in gear
- with the switch in the off position and your foot off the clutch, try to start the vehicle. It should not start. This is the normal operating position.
- turn the switch on, and try again. The Jeep should start.
9. Put everything back together.
Here's the end result for mine:
In case you are curious; the switches are:
There ya go
Here's how to bypass the clutch interlock.
*disclaimer* The notes below are for an '03 TJ. Your rig is likely different...check the owners manual.
According to the owner's manual for my '03 TJ, to bypass the clutch interlock, simply pull the spare 20amp fuse from position 19 in the fuse panel behind the glove box and put it in position 20.
That is it. You are done.
However, I wanted to make it a switchable thing where I didn't have to move fuses and whatnot while stalled on a 132 degree incline.
Here's what you'll need. I picked up my stuff at O'Reilly for just under $8 bux.
- 1 box of 20amp fuses (I didn't have any spares...$2.59)
- 1 mini fuse holder ($1.79)
- 1 red rocker switch ($2.99)
also a couple feet of spare 14guage wire and various connectors
The wiring diagram looks as follows:
So...here we go. The full install should take less than 1/2 an hour...
1. Find a good location to mount your switch. I used one of the available ones above the cig lighter.
2. Make sure the mini fuse holder does not have a fuse in it (you'll add that later)
3. Connect the 'power' lead from the rocker switch to one of poles in position 20 of the fuse box
4. Connect the 'accessory' lead from the rocker switch to the mini fuse holder
5. Connect the other side of the mini fuse holder to the other pole of position 20 in the fuse box
NOTE: don't know if it is the best way, but I purposely blew one of the 20amp fuses and wedged it in place to hold the wires in the fuse box. (let me know if you know of a better way...)
6. Connect the 'ground' lead from the rocker switch to a good ground source (I tapped the cig lighter)
7. Put a 20amp fuse in the mini fuse holder.
8. Test it out:
- pull the e-brake
- make sure you are not in gear
- with the switch in the off position and your foot off the clutch, try to start the vehicle. It should not start. This is the normal operating position.
- turn the switch on, and try again. The Jeep should start.
9. Put everything back together.
Here's the end result for mine:
In case you are curious; the switches are:
There ya go