89 GXL, turn key and the dash lights come on as they should, press clutch to start and all lights go out, starter never gets a chance to turn over. It's like the electical system shuts off until I remove the key. Take out key and reinsert and everything works as it should until I press the clutch again to start, and everything goes off again. I have not replaced or fixed anything prior to this occuring. It has been fine until today. Starter? Relay? Don't know where to start.

 

You might have alarm issues preventing the Starter Cut relay from passing voltage through the circuit properly. At the relay try jumpering the Black/Blue wire to the Black/Green wire and see if this makes a difference. Normally, the alarm sends a signal to the relay to allow the car to be started and no signal means the car will not start because the voltage signal will not make it to the starter.

 

And if you turn the key to on and the wipers or turn signals don't work then check your Main fuse in the engine fuse box. Check these items first.

 

Main fuse is fine. Jumped Black/Blue wire to the Black/Green wire but same situation occurs.

 

I forgot to mention which Black/Green wire at the Starter Cut relay that is supposed to be jumpered to the Black/Blue wire and I apologize for that error. Now there are "two" Black/Green wires at your relay where one of them has voltage w/key to on and the other does not. The B/G wire which does not have voltage w/key to on is the wire in which is to be jumpered to the Black/Blue wire. So, see if this is the wire you jumpered to or not. Also, tell us if the turn signals or wipers work w/key to on as this will indicate whether the ignition switch is receiving constant voltage or not as it should.

To add, the B/G wire which does not have voltage w/key to on connects to the Interlock switch which then runs to the starter. Your Interlock switch might be causing the problems as well. If the Black/Blue wire at the relay already mentioned has voltage w/key to "start" then if jumpering it to the B/G wire that runs to the Interlock switch doesn't change anything then that would lead one to check the condition of the Interlock switch.

So, if the jumpering does not help then check for voltage on the Black/Blue wire w/key to start and see what you come up with.

 

Might be a dumb question, but have you tried starting it in neutral. The Neutral Safety Switch and Clutch Switch are wired parallel to each other, only one or the other has to be making contact (car in neutral OR clutch pressed in). If that doesn't cure it, try bypassing the alarm's starter cut relay as previously mentioned.

If your car doesn't have a factory alarm (it was an option), there's already a jumper wire taking the place of the starter cut relay

 

The car is in neutral and there is a factory alarm system. The relay has a black/blue, black/green, black and a green wire. There are not two black/green wires.

 

And do the wipers and or turn signals work w/key to on. This is "IMPORTANT" Please don't make me have to ask for a third time as once should have been more than enough.

Check to see if the B/L has voltage w/key to start. This is important so please do this. If the wipers/turn signals work then the B/L wire at the relay should have voltage w/key to start but check anyway.

The wires at the relay might be dirty but it should have two B/G wires. Either way then check the B/G wire for voltage w/key to on and do the same thing for the Black wire you mentioned and the one which does not have voltage w/key to on should be jumpered to the B/L wire to bypass this relay and properly remove it from the equation as the possible cause of your problem.

 

The wipers work fine. Thanks for you help satch, but it will be easier to get a new relay than to troubleshoot a possible bad one. Thanks again.

 

Isn't it better to diagnose what the actual problem is before you start replacing parts? It should take all of two minutes to figure out what is wrong and then you go from there. If your alarm is preventing the relay from working properly then even a brand new relay would not solve the problem one iota now would it? Your problem might be the Interlock switch or perhaps a loose wire at the alternator or starter switch, but it's your car so replace away. Oh boy!