Chevrolet: 1998 camaro, soft thud, battery cables

Question
Car will not start. Checked battery and it is fine, so i assume the alternator is not the problem. When i push in the clutch and turn the key i get nothing, not even a click. Could this
be the starter.If not ,what should i be checking. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer
Michael,
       There are a few things you can check. I generally always say start with the small stuff. I don't know if your dash lights and gauges are coming on, but I assume they are. First check your battery cables all the way from the battery to the starter for the positive, and the battery to the ground for the negative. A bad connection can build up over time and next thing you know you got no juice. Check your fuses for the starter and the ECM and the ignition. Check the safety switch for the clutch... I believe there is one on there in 98... (it won't let the motor turn over without the clutch in), and if it goes bad it could cause that problem. Did you load test the battery? I have run into a few that have voltage but no amps to crank with. (most parts stores will test them for free if you don't have a load tester.) If none of that works, here are a few questions to answer so I can maybe narrow down the problem... Did you try pull or push starting it, and if so will it start up and run? Do you have lights and gauges when the key is turned on? Have someone help you and push in the clutch and hold the key over to start and feel if the solenoid on the starter vibrates a little or if you hear a kind of a soft thud. Does the solenoid get warm after a few seconds? Or the positive battery cable? You may have a stuck solenoid, and sometimes a few whacks with a hammer frees it up enough to turn the motor over. Let me know if this helps, and if none of that works, shoot me answers to the questions there and I'll give it another shot.