Pontiac Fiero Safety Starter Switch Replacement

How to use 1988 Chevrolet S10 Starter Safety Switch For 1984 -1988 Pontiac Fiero

If you have a 1984-1988 Pontiac Fiero with a manual transmission, be prepared with a quick fix and a long-term solution when your clutch safety switch fails for various reasons. Regardless if your Pontiac Fiero has 50,000 or 150,000 miles, the Clutch Starter Safety Switch can fail at any time simply due to aging plastics. The Clutch Starter Safety Switch can also fail due to wear and how heavy your clutch foot is. One firm clutch pedal push could kill a weak adjustment rod clip and create a “no start” condition.

Note: Before you replace the switch, check to see if your only problem is the adjustment rod clip slipping! If your adjustment rod clip is all the way to the end of the rod, it is likely not able to push the switch over the contacts. See image below for how to use a wire tie to fix this. You may need to do this if you choose to replace the switch as well.

Clutch Starter Safety Switch For 1984-1988 Pontiac Fiero Is No Longer Available

As with many parts for older cars, the clutch safety switch that allows your Pontiac Fiero to start when you depress the clutch, is no longer available. On the other hand, you can still buy a Clutch Starter Safety Switch for a 1983 to 1988 Chevrolet S10! While the actual switch of the Chevrolet replacement part is almost identical to the Fiero’s switch, the adjustment rod is not usable. The S10 adjustment rod is basically “backwards” when compared to the Fiero’s version. So this is where we get creative and use the Fiero’s adjustment rod with the switch body of the Chevrolet S-10 replacement part. This is actually a pretty quick and easy fix.

1. Carefully remove Fiero Clutch Safety Switch. Do not break the original adjustment rod! You will need it!
2. Take pictures once switch is removed as well as one with both switches side by side
3. Disassemble both switches, carefully removing the metal plate with as little prying on one end of the “forks” that hold it to the plastic body of the switch
4. The metal cover will not spring back to original position, so it is important you don’t bend it to far to get it off.
5. Remove both adjustment clips, one from the old Fiero part and one from the new Chevrolet part.
6. Using your pictures for reference, assemble the old Fiero part into the new switch’s sliding part.
7. Reassemble the new switch and carefully replace the metal cover. You should try to bend the arms back as close as possible to the assembled position and then gently push it back on.
8. Re-install your new Fiero Clutch Safety Switch on Clutch Pedal
9. Plug harness back in

Why replace the clutch starter safety switch?

A jumper seems to be a more permanent solution!
If you read our favorite Fiero board at Pennocks, most of the fixes involve deleting the Fiero Clutch Starter Safety Switch. While deleting the switch is fast and easy, there are safety reasons to replace it. According to schematics, this switch disengages cruise control when you depress the clutch.

You will likely push your clutch in to start regardless if the safety switch is deleted!

I think that almost everyone that drives a clutch instinctively pushes the clutch when they start. It is a behavior that is ingrained in our safety and functional consciousness even if you drive an automatic car! Of course if you don’t care about cruise control or it doesn’t work, permanent deletion is an option. If that is to be the case, I would use a short jumper in the same gauge as the two wires going to the switch. That appears to be about 12 gauge wire.
I don’t think a paper clip is a smart, long-term jumper for this switch. If anything I’d consider at least a 12 gauge jumper and a 10 to 20 amp fuse if you intend to remove the switch from the circuit.

Clutch Pedal Safety Switch Quick Fix Kit

I strongly suggest that if you drive a manual transmission Fiero with a functional factory clutch safety switch, that you pack a couple of paper clips or better yet, a very short, i.e. 2 inch 12 gauge jumper wire with spades secured on each end. If your Fiero’s clutch safety switch fails, you can get back running fast by unplugging the harness off of the clutch safety switch and using either a paper clip or jumper wire as a temporary “get home” solution. If you use a paper clip, be sure to wrap the switch in electrical tape so you don’t have a hot connecting bumping around under your dash. Either the paper clip or better yet, short insulated piece of wire with spades, is recommended as a very temporary solution to get home*.