Car will not crank...Neutral Safety Switch?

[wayne_ford]

I bought a car from a dealer last weekend and it won't crank. It started when I test drove it and it starts occasionally, but have been poping the clutch. I hear the fuel pump when I turn the key forward, but nothing else happens. I originally thought it was an alarm system, but I pulled it out and it started once.

 

[olympic]

Here's how I'd approach that problem:

1. clean the battery terminals and check the ground wire connection on the engine.
2. use a test light to see if there is power coming to the ignition post(the small one) on the solenoid when the key is in the start postition. If there's power, check to see if there's power coming out the starter terminal on the solenoid. IF there's power there then it's the starter that's bad. If there's no power at the starter terminal on the solenoid, then the solenoid is bad.
3. IF there's no power to the ignition terminal on the solenoid, then it's either the ignition switch itself or the clutch safety switch. Pull the connector off the clutch switch and cross the terminals with a paper clip. If the car still wont start then it's the ignition switch. If it starts then replace the clutch safety switch.