Random Non-start when it's cold

Help! Has anyone had experience with this?
1998 5 speed manual 6cyl. Randomly doesn't start. Doesn't make the clicking sound, gauges and lights work, but it won't crank over. Mechanic looked at it and thinks starter/ solenoid is good. Battery tested good, cables are cleaned with no corrosion.

After a few tries with the key, it does start right up.

 

3 things come to mind.

You might still have a bad relay.

You might have a bad ignition switch.

You might have bad battery cables. Most people look at the terminals and don't suspect that the cable itself is corroded from the inside.

On my 4Runner, I had to cut off 6-8" of the negative battery cable and solder in a new stretch with the old school lead terminal connector. When the plastic was peeled back, the corrosion in the cable was extensive especially near the terminal. It "snap crackle popped" when you flexed the cable. There was enough power to light up everything but not to kick the starter over.

One thing that makes things a pain to figure out, is that with a connection that is slowly degrading, if you turn on your lights, that current running through the bad cable will ever so much REVERSE the corrosion and like magic, the next turn of the key, the car starts.

 

Welcome. @negusm has good points of reference. Also, double-check that the clutch switch is making contact.

 

Agreed, I had to swap my clutch switch out, have you tried using the clutch start cancel?