1988 Mazda 323 valve cover gasket problems

check fuses. is it stick or automatic?

stick

All the fuses are fine.

when you say nothing do the dash warning lights come on when you turn key?

Yes, the lights came on. It would make a humming noise when I turned the ignition. I now managed to get it started originally by pushing it, and ever since then it starts like it should. It acts like there was a bad spot in the starter, a completely unrelated problem. Thanks for the assistance!

I guess I'm still having the same problem. Apparently it starts under its own power after it is warmed up, but I have to push start it every time when the engine is cold. This makes me think it is the starter, but it's still weird that this happened immediately following the valve cover gasket repair. Is there anything else I could of done that would make the car act this way?

have you tried making the starter work right at the starter instead of key? or check for 12v at the starter soleniod when you turn key.

I tried a new starter and solenoid and no luck. I can hear the starter click when I turn the key and the lights dim, but it won't turn over. I looked for any shorts going to the battery and to the starter, but I see nothing. If I turn the key enough times, it usually will start eventually.

it sounds like you have a bad electrical connection. the check the ground and hot wire of battery cables. you could also have a bad battery cell. get it load tested at auto store.

I finally discovered it was a bad starter, even though it tested fine. The new starter I bought from Autozone was also bad, so that was throwing me off. I went to O'reilly's and they gave me a good starter. Thanks for all the suggestions!