Intermittent start problem
 

Is there a switch or relay that prevents/allows you to start in gear vs in neutral on a '83 SC? I'm having this weird problem when going to start after a long (<30 min) run. I was in gear, no start. Battery charge at 12.6v when off, alternator was charging, so I slipped in into neutral and it started right up. Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated, thanks.

It's not clear from your post if by " no start" you mean that the starter motor runs but the engine won't fire, or the starter motor doesn't run at all. Can you clarify this for us?

Starter did not run. Sorry.

I just ran into a problem where after a long (4 hour) drive the car would not start.

I tapped on the solenoid and it fired.

I let it cool overnight, it fired.

I ran a 4 hour drive home, it wouldn't start.

Let it cool again, it fired.

For me it seems to be an open and shut case of heat affecting the starter solenoid. I ordered a new starter assembly, and it should show up at my house today.

To the original question....there is no relay or anything else related to gearbox or clutch and starter operation. Totally independent of each other.

Let me know if replacing the starter resolves the problem. Thanks, those are the same symptoms I'm experiencing.