New Owner - 97 wont start

[fishprowler]

Hey guys, I didn't want my first post to be in the problem forum .... but that usually how my life goes!

I bought a 97 crew cab long box (manual) last week. So far it has been great. This morning I went to leave, and it wouldn't crank, lots of power and everything else worked. After some troubleshooting on the net I tried to jump the starter solenoid posts and it fired right up! I went and bought a new solenoid, replaced it, and its still doing the same thing. Won't crank by turning the key. Fires right up if I bridge the solenoid posts with a screwdriver.

Any ideas? I've done a bunch of searching but can't seem to find anything.

[glovemeister]

Have you verified that your clutch safety wire/switch is still present? I've had it happen before where my clutch interlock switch wentout and it wouldn't start for anything, until I jumped the solenoid then it fired right up.

[madpogue]

^^^^ +1; jumping the relay (that's a relay, BTW, not a solenoid) does not identify it as the bogey. Clutch start switch is the next prime suspect. As a TEMPORARY TEST, you can disconnect the connector from the switch, and jumper the two terminals on the connector closest to the firewall, then see if it starts with the key. CAUTION - with this jumpered, the truck can start IN GEAR with the clutch ENGAGED, so be sure you're pushing the clutch when you try this. Better yet, in case the real problem is with clutch disengagement, put it in neutral before trying to start it.

If that turns out to be the culprit, it may not be the switch itself. Could be sloppy bushings in the pedal box, or the fabled bushing on the lever arm where it connects to the eyelet on the pushrod.

[fishprowler]

Thanks for the advice guys, I tried jumping the clutch safety switch and it didn't work either.

Turns out after many headaches, there is a Compustar remote starter system installed in the truck which I never knew about (it didn't come with a FOB) and I wasn't told when I purchased it. Somehow it must have gone into a security mode. After cycling they key 5 times within 10 seconds (or something to that effect) it fired right up. What a nightmare, but at least its over.