I have an 89 IROC with the TBI fuel system and have had some electrical problems. The starter wont disengage when you release the key from the crank position but the engine never starts when this happens. It used to be an intermitten problems but now it is constant and I cant start the car. It seems as if it shorts out the battery as well or at least sucks all of the power from it and you have to disconnect it to stop the car from cranking, but again, the engine will never fire when this happens. When this problem started, when you disconnected the battery and then hooked it back up it would release the starter from cranking, however now, if you hook the battery back up it just starts cranking even if the key if off completely. The ignition switch seems to be pulling the rod back OK. I have already replaced the starter solenoid so that is not the problem and I am baffled. I noticed also that all of the guages peg out when this happens whih I find strange also. Wondering if its the ignition switch itself or maybe a sticky start relay or even the start switch at the end of the rod in the steering column? If anyone has had this problem or any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

TTT. Anyone had this problem?

I had a simular problem with my starter, turns out the starter it self was going bad(the internals)!
I had it rebuilt and now its fine.

Two possibilities:
- ignition switch sticky
- starter solenoid sticky

Since you said that you already replaced the starter solenoid with no improvement, I'd check the ignition switch. The easiest thing you can do is put a test light on the starter circuit anywhere between the ignition and the starter. I'd recommend pulling off the shifter plate and putting the test light on either of the thick wires on the shifter switch (I assume you have an automatic transmission).
That test would tell you whether the ignition switch is sticking.

Let us know what you find.
Lou

Thanks for the input and I will give that a try. I remember testing the starter and it seemed OK and I did install and new solenoid to no avail. For awhile there is was an intermitten problem but then started doing it constantly. It makes sense after all. Thanks again.