The car in question is a 1990 GXL 5 speed and my issue goes as follows.

Storytime:
I initially bought the car and the engine wouldnt turn over. I removed the starter to bench test it, and I also made sure the engine wasn't seized by attempting to turn it over by hand. Which it did. When i bench tested the starter it was a bit sticky, so i took the time to clean it as best i could untill it actuated smoothly. Placed it back in the car and the car turned over under its own power.

5 days pass as i tackle other issues in the car and i come back to find that the starter is no longer turning the engine over.

What ive done about the issue:
I've done as much research as i can and found that people sometimes have issues with two switches which kill power going to the starter, those being the starter cut relay and the clutch activated relay/switch. I checked the clutch switch and found it to be working as it should. I jumpered both the starter cut and the clutch to be safe and the start still doesnt turn the engine over.

When i try to start the car the lights in the cabin dont even dim, suggesting that im still not getting power to the starter. Could this be an issue regarding the grounding of the starter? Have i overlooked something in the starter system?

the darn thing worked a few days ago I cannot for the life of me figure out what happened

Thanks

 

when you had it open for cleaning, how did it look inside? how were the brushes?

 

Suggestion: Momentary Switch/Button On A Direct Line From Batt. To Starter. To Test If Not As A Solution. If That Doesn't Work... I'd Replace The Starter Anyway.

 

turns out what i thought was the interlock switch was actually the switch that cut the cruise control. I jumpered the interlock and the car started. I test the interlock for continuity and it works as it should. The mount on which the interlock sits on was bent ever so slightly when the clutch first got mashed to the floor, causing it to engage improperly with the clutch adjusted.