Range of Object failed?

Hi, the following code in my VBA program is causing a range of object failed error.

VB Code:

Range(Sheets(sheetname).Cells(start, startCol), Sheets(sheetname).Cells(50, startCol)).ClearContents

It would only error if sheetname is not the current active sheet opened. Therefore I added

VB Code:

Range(Sheets(sheetname).Cells(start,startCol).Value, Sheets(sheetname).Cells(50,startCol).Value).Activate

before it.
It STILL complained! I ran out of ideas.
Why wouldnt the compiler like the following code even after I activate the sheet?

This cleared the contents on my side

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Sub test()
Dim sheetname As String
Dim start
Dim startcol
 
 
sheetname = "MySheet"
start = 1
startcol = 2
 
 
Range(Sheets(sheetname).Cells(start, startcol), Sheets(sheetname).Cells(50, startcol)).ClearContents
End Sub

What numbers are you using for Start/StartCol?