2000 Sl2 Ignition Woes

Hi
I have a 2000 SL2 that is giving me grief when starting. It seems to be getting progressively worse. It seems that when I turn the key to start nothing happens other than the dash illuminates (ie air bag, etc). It takes 4-6 tries before it starts. A couple of weeks ago my clutch came unhooked somehow and I had to reach up underneath the dash and insert the push rod back into the hole so that when you depressed the clutch, it would be functional (I don't know if that has anything to do with problem but the clutch pedal itself seems very loose even though it is functional). My other question regarding this ignition problem is that sometimes the key is hard to turn or even insert (as a matter of fact I can remove the key from the ignition while the car is still running and I don't know if that is normal???). Lastly I have a squeak in the back end when you sit either I sit down in car or when I push down on trunk lid.

Please help!!!

Thanks in advance
Brian

When you say it takes 4-6 tries before it starts, is it cranking or clicking or anything before it starts, or does it just light up the lights?

Hi
The instrumentation lights up with faint sound but definitely not cranking (not the constistant clicking though when battery is low either). I saw a post on another message that said that the clutch has a switch so I went out and checked mine because as I mentioned in my first message that my clutch pedal became disconnected about 2 weeks ago. I noticed after going to my car tonight that I can start it by letting the clutch out a bit from the floor so I wonder if the clutch pedal becoming disconnected and my subsequent inserting the pushrod back into place has thrown off the switch somehow.

the problem with the clutch rod falling off shouldnt happen unless someone removed the clip that holds it to the pedal.

now about the starting problem and key, im betting both are a joint issue being the ignition switch w/tumbler (part key goes into). the 3rd gens have had an issue like this in several, although most just have where the key comes back out, but im thinking your ignition switch is a problem too.

now the squeak is a hard thing to trace without being there. it could be a strut, sway bar end link, sway bar bushing, just alot of things.

Is it hard to connect the clutch clip...when i put my hand up underneath I can feel some sort of clip that is loose and can spun around by hand but I do not see where or what is not connected (but the metal rod is in place in the hole so that when the clutch is depressed it works. I have used my car today and again have noticed that if I don't depress the clutch entirely to the floor (just push almost to the floor), the car starts no problem!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/federal_rider12/car/24-trans.jpg

red arrow points out clip. to remove it, you need to spread it so that lip doesnt catch the portion that the clutch rod slides onto (look close for the lip on it). to install it, pretty much just slide it over.

now then you clutch switch may be out of place. maybe you just havent been putting the clutch all the way to the switch. i couldnt say the issue you have, but it could be either of those.