1993 ford escort wagon electrical issue

[FireJ1]

car will not start without being hooked up to another battery like it's being jump started, and when I push my clutch all the way down to the floor my car starts with out turning the key. (the key is in the on position though) also once the car is running if the clutch is pressed all the way to the floor their is a grinding noise and the car stalls out. and on the dash board the brake and fuel cut out lights always remain lit but there is no other dashboard light (even with the head lights on).

[Davescort97]

A short in your ignition switch could be running down the battery and causing the starter to engage when the clutch is depressed.

The clutch switch is doing what it is supposed to do. Keeps the car from starting in gear with the clutch out.

The ignition switch is the culprit here. I've seen a few threads here on this forum depicting the same thing. It's not the starter solenoid. If it was the starter would be engaged all the time, not just when the clutch switch is pushed in.

Don't push in the clutch while it is running. It could strip out the ring gear on the flywheel. Then, you would have to pull the tranny to get it fixed.