Okay so it did it again today twice, first time I was clueless and just kept trying to start it, second time it tried cranking once then I decided to try disengaging and engaging the clutch a few times and it started right up so I'm assuming now its the clutch switch going bad.

How do I fix this? I've head about wiring it so that it doesn't need depressed to start the truck by hard wiring the two connections. How and where is this done?

 

Not that it is advised, but it is very easy. If you have a multi meter use the continuity setting to find out if the switch is normally open or closed. More than likely it it normally open, allowing the circuit to close when the pedal is depressed. Find the sensor, unplug it, and connect to contacts with a paper clip or small piece of wire. Try starting with the clutch pedal up and see what happens. I prefer to use parer clips or small pieces of wire as they are easily reverted to original.
One of the fine fellas on here should be able to tell you where the sensor is. I would imagine it is on the pedal shaft itself, but do not know for sure.

 

I know its not the best idea but I always push the clutch when I start and make sure the truck is in neutral before I start so I'm not really worried about closing the circuit permantely. I just need to get this problem solved cheaply.

Someone who knows more about this should nicely chime in

 

unplug the sensor down by the clutch pedal, get a paperclip or piece of wire and put them in the plug, this will by pass the clutch overide and you will be able to start the truck with out pressing the clutch in, also another problem that has happened alot is tilting the steering wheel up and down over the years starts to pull the wires out of the ignition might wanna try pulling the plastics off and make sure there are no lose wires and that the plugs are all plugged in tight

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or just cut the plug off and put the two wires together, but then you have ruined it, but it can always be fixed

 

I'll try finding the sensor tomorrow, I never tilt the wheel and haven't since I bought it, but if the sensor fix doesn't work ill take a look, and if both of those don't fix the problem I guess its something with the starter contacts. Boy gotta love the crystler brand haha I had a jeep cherokee before and let me tell you electrical gremlins is an understatement haha. I learned all kinds of cheap redneck fixes when I had that thing

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Okay I'm having trouble finding this plug

 

ok look under neath the dash by the clutch pedal, above the clutch pedal there is the linkage that hooks into the firewall, there will be a two wire plug coming off of it, and i think its a green plug. Ill see if I can find a picture to post of it.

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here is the picture of the hydralics off of the truck but you can see the plug circled in the pic and its right next to the rod that connects to the clutch pedal


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you want to put the paper clip or wire on the plug on the truck not the plug on the hydralics in the picture, thats just to help you find it

 

Okay I found it right before you replied haha, so the end with a female style connection needs the paperclip correct?

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Never mind I didn't read that last part sorry

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Okay so I didn't find any paper clips so I used what I had laying around to make a tight connection. Two female connects jammed in the plug with a piece of wire and sucess! Hopefully this cured the problem

 

Should have it, if that was the problem. Just make sure the clutch is in, or trans in neutral. I know it kind of demeaning to say, but sure would suck to start in gear.

 

Yeah I always put it in neutral when I go to start it and push the clutch in so no worries

 

If you dislike your current jumper, You could go to the local junk yard and pull one from an automatic truck. They all use a jumper that plugs into the one on the truck. Except I think the one on my 02 was yellow. (not a big diff but still)

I also would vote to not use this as a long term fix. When I had my manual I always parked the truck with it in gear. It only takes once to cause an accident. However putting the jumper in is a good way to trouble shoot the clutch switch.