2001 SL won't start irradic

The car will not start 10 times in a row and then start for weeks. No rhyme or reason. No temp problems etc. HOWEVER the clutch does NOT have to be pushed in to start it. I am thinking the clutch interlock was a requirement and perhaps that is causing the problem.

Anyone have a thought?

What do you mean "won't start". Is it a crank, no start or will it not crank over at all?

What do you mean "won't start". Is it a crank, no start or will it not crank over at all?

Everything electrical works but it won't turn over. Fuel is fine batter is fine. If Push and pop the clutch it starts.

It will be just fine the not start. Then it could not start several times in a row OR just once.

Sounds like a problem with the clutch switch. Check the connector at the switch, check the switch itself with a meter when it's pushed in and released.

In your case the clutch switch may be bad, but that doesn't appear to be what is preventing the car from starting. I think you either have a bad connection at the battery or a bad starter. These cars are very sensitive to bad connections at the battery terminals.

If you look, you will see that the size of the positive wire going to the starter is much thicker than the positive cable going to the fuse box under the hood. This is because the starter alone requires substantially more power than the rest of the car's combined electrical load. The bad connection at the battery may be sufficient for everything else, but not for the current required for the starter.

There is no 100% accurate way to check for a bad starter. It could have a bad spot in it. I had a starter like this. I had to push start it a handful of times in the 4 years I owned it. Then suddenly the starter would not work at all.

A paper clip had been inserted in the plug to the clutch interlock. THAT is why it could be started without the clutch being depressed. I bought an new switch and installed it and THAT was not the problem. NEXT I'll trace down that big wire from the battery.