I have 03 Protege5 it's a 5 speed & when I try to crank it I have to press the clutch in & then press even harder to get it to start. I tried to google anything from crank position sensor to to clutch position sensor & really didn't get anywhere. Has anyone else ran into this?

 

Does it not crank at all until you press hard? If so, double check your clutch safety switch. Make sure the there no mat, or other debris behind the pedal. Make sure nothing came loose affecting it's adjustment.

 

After posting this yesterday I noticed there is a switch at the back of the clutch on the firewall. Just to test it out I placed folded cardboard on top of the switch & that made it easier to crank it. Just got to figure out the name of the switch.
(BTW I ask part store the name & said neutral safety switch)

 

The neutral safety switch is for automatics. It should be called a clutch safety switch or a clutch starter safety switch or clutch pedal lock switch.

I don’t have my protege here to look but the switch should mount to a bracket. Make sure it’s not bent. There is likely an adjuster too that may have loosened and backed out.

 

Funny, Autozone refers to it as a Clutch Pedal Ignition Lock Switch.

Yet O'Reilly calls is a Neutral Safety Switch. So does Napa.