Anyone ever use this button? Just curious if it actually helps getting out of a difficult situation.

 

The only thing it does is allow you to reach in the window and start the truck

Or if the switch on the clutch pedal fails it allows you to start the truck

So yes it saved my from climbing into the truck 2.5 million times and counting

One of the first things to be removed on my vehicles

 

^^^what Wyoming said. I've used mine alot the last few months because I've been to lazy to adjust the switch on the clutch pedal, lol.

 

One example of the use of this switch, I drowned out in a river crossing, and used the starter to move the truck out of the water.

 

I use it every time I start the truck. When you depress the clutch pedal, you are essentially trying to push the crankshaft out the front of the block. The button saves wear and tear on the thrust bearing in the bottom end...

 

x2 on using the starter to move a dead truck or using it when you actually want to start the truck in gear (on hill etc...)

 

X3 on starting the truck in gear for good reason.
I also ALWAYS start my truck before dealing with seatbelt seat, mirror, etc., and before putting in gear - to allow better oil circulation before driving off.
Therefore, although I always park in first gear, I always put it in neutral, engage clutch safety cancel, the start.
Because I engage the clutch safety switch with gear in neutral, i do not need to step on clutch to start - just like Wyoming.

 

You'll wear out the switch WELL before you wear out the thrusts(or throwout bearing). Occasional use is fine. But I wouldn't advise using it every time you start the engine. One of these days you're going to forget to take it out of gear first(no pun intended) and plow into a parked car(or similar immobile object). Because you're human like the rest of us. Same goes to all previous posters in this thread.

EDIT: And no, the parking brake will only slow you down. Not prevent the accident. And if you're trying to drive with the starter and forget to release the parking brake first, you've got about 5-10 seconds to get that figured out. Before you majorly damage your starter. I just did that not too long ago. Me human too...believe it or not.

 

I always drop the trans into neutral before I hit the switch. It's not habit, it's a conscious effort. I saw my brother slam his truck into the house when we were kids, he reached in the window and started the truck, thought he left it in neutral...

You wouldn't sit at a stoplight with your foot holding in the clutch pedal, would you -- or would you?

 

Interesting I always park the truck in neutral before setting the brakes .

A 40 year habit is hard to break

You can`t help your brother is a little slow nor can I help I am retarded the way things are

 

My truck has no CSC switch, and indeed no clutch switch at all. It will happily crank away no matter what the clutch or shifter are doing.

That said, the only time I cranked it in gear was to move it 20 feet when the carb was taken off.