Well my 89 Camaro RS with a dropped in 350 5.7L engine is having troubles starting... again... still... Here's the problem: I push in the clutch (that would mean it's manual ) and turn the key to start it, but get nothing. When I say nothing, I mean nothing... The interior lights dim a little bit, the stereo shuts off, the engine fan stops running if it was running... just like it should when you start a car. The only the is the starter doesn't kick in... no clicking, cranking, or other odd noises. Alright, I've posted this before, but as soon as I got some ideas of where to start looking, the problem would stop occurring. See, the car has to be not starting in order to work on it otherwise I'd pretty much be trying to find a problem that is nonexistent.

Well here's the new things I've found and realized...

1) The problem occurs after I leave the key in the on positiong, WITH the car NOT running, for about 5 minutes. I'll then try to start it and get the problem. I'll do this on purpose so I can look for the problem whenever I want, wherever I want. So I had some time today to start to look for the problem and this is were I learned another thing... #2

2) There is current flowing to the clutch safety switch when I turn the key forward as well as flowing away from the clutch safety switch when the switch is engaged and the key is turned forward.

As for anything beyond this, I couldn't tell you much more.

Any ideas on where to keep looking, if anyone has any questions or suggestions I should try next, or anyone has had this problem before, please let me know

Oh, one other thing... If I push the car and pop the clutch, it starts up without any fuss.

 

i had this SAME EXACT problem with my 89 rs. I got mad one day and accidentally broke the CSS. So i just jumped the two wires for that switch and called it a day. Never had the problem again. Maybe try that? ill get some pics for ya if you wish

 

CSS stands for what? Yah some pictures would be great.

Thanks

 

clutch safety swith. ill take some tomorrow mornin and post them up for ya. its real simple. DEFFINATLY a rig job, but i tried to make it look neat anyway

 

i'd check your battery cables we had this problem not too long ago