Lately I have had intermittent starting problems. Some mornings it fires up w/in 2 seconds.
Then the next morning, 30 seconds. (in 8-10 second key turns, not continuous).

The last couple of days it seems like when I mash the clutch as if I'm trying to put it through the firewall, it starts more quickly. Are the plunger switches behind the pedal known to fail?
I'm just trying to determine if the sensor which tells the ignition that driver has depressed the clutch go ahead and start, could be failing?

 

Yes, they have been known to fail.
I'm not sure it's your issue as the 04's were known to also have weak starters(which also might be showing up).
Let me go do a search and check the next post in a few and I will link a good thread there that you might want to check.


and.......for the record, I remember who you are.

 

Found this:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...=clutch+switch

and then I know that................

The switch at the bottom of the clutch travel and has the black body/white plunger is the safety switch.
The clutch switch that disables cruise(unrelated one), is at the top of the clutch travel with a red body/black plunger, they are both adjustable.

I will also say that the lower switch(safety switch) has been known to stick in and the plunger might need to be pulled out. That's what is being talked about in that first thread I linked. Read that thread, I think it's only three posts long. Pay attention to what Ray(Charles Hill) says in the third post.
Is it possible you just smashed it in once and now it won't come all the way back up?


The pic below is small(and not mine) comes from this thread................. https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=switch and is also a good one to go read and look at as it will talk abou the pic.

Remember, this may not be your issue, I am just going off of what you said and described.

You also should make sure that your clutch pedal bracket plate isn't beginning to crack at the base(right near the firewall).
There are a ton of threads on that with pics.
Have you had any squeeking or free play issues with the clutch pedal?
If it is.......take it in as there is a warranty for it(8 years or 100k miles). Not the official thread, but will give you the idea. https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...clutch+bracket

 

Yes, I was going to suggest the same thing.

 

Obviously my patience with the search function is much like my patience with holiday shopping, non-existant! It's the safety switch which seems. . . not sticky. . . but perhaps loose in its mount and not always getting the complete plunge, if you follow!
Nevertheless, thanks for the links. I have a part or two from the Butchers Hacks and Retards crew and respect Rays knowledge. (the next part to check will be his custom coils). Yeah, my clutch welds are fine, I've been watching it for a couple years.
Finally, I'm sorry for being a dick a while back. Dark period in my life. I truly feel shitty cuz you are practically a homeboy. I started as a little grommet back in Cocoa Beach and left in 1985. Thanks again, later

 

No worries..........I really didn't give a ****.
My skin is thicker than that anyway, but I do have a good memory.

Yeah, I went to Cocoa Beach High for at least a year(Junior year), and Satellite for the others.
Not long before you, had you gone there for High School.

Hopefully all that info(overload) will get you where you need to be.

 

Yeah I was a 82 CB grad. My older brother graduated from Satellite before we moved off base when my dad retired.

 

77 Satellite Scorpion

 

btw...in case someone stops through with this issue. A local had found that the switch has the same part number as a switch on a Cadillac I think it was, might have been a Lincoln, but was 1/4 of the Mazda price.