Ignition on, clutch in, turn the key to start. The lights dim, nothing happens. Popped the hood, thought maybe the solenoid wire had come off. Nope its firmly attached. Wiggle it round, make sure its got a good connection. Still no start. I keep trying over and over again. Starts right up. Turned it off, tried again. Nothing. Tried a few more times, and it started again.

Last time this happened was on a Chevy 350 motor and I needed a new solenoid. Same thing here, I'd imagine? I'm wary of parts store "rebuilt" starters. Any suggestions?

Did you try lightly nudging (aka smacking) the starter with a hammer? Sometimes the solenoid doesn't completely engage and hitting the starter/solenoid helps it to engage fully. At least it's worked that way for me.

The solenoids are rebuildable. Others have done it but I don't recall where to source the parts.

For a local rebuild, go directly to an actual starter rebuilder company if you have any local. They are more inclined to get it right the first time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Does the starter click when the key is turned to start? Just doesn't turn the motor?

No, the starter doesn't click at all. When it does 'catch' so to speak, it cranks with full power and starts right up. Thanks for the help

Make sure all your battery cable connections are clean and tight, at the battery, starter, and ground point. A bad connection could be preventing the starter from getting enough current to crank.

My bet is electrical portion of ign switch (easy to fix) or dirty battery terminals (even easier to fix). If the solenoid is bad, you will usually get a click as the core extends, but arcing corrosion keeps it from taking juice to the starter motor. There are a ton of connections between batt and solenoid, any one of which could be intermittent. The most usual are the ign switch and the solenoid wire terminal, which can get some corrosion from living outside.

To test my hypothesis, jumper from batt terminal at starter to solenoid terminal. Engine should crank, but won't start unless ign is on in run.

I recently replaced the battery cable with a new one, so I don't think it's that. It could be the wire going to the solenoid, I'll test it for voltage when I have time, maybe tonight, and jumper it with a screwdriver or something and see if it cranks over.

If the connector on the solenoid wire is shot, how do you replace that?

Then ignore my suggestion completely. My suggestion only has a chance of working if the starter tries to engage the solenoid (the click).

See what the other guys said. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

what do you mean when it does catch ??
did hitting the starter do anything ?
i have had issues before with starters
normally i will pull them apart clean them up real good .
run a small break hone inside the solenoid. and just clean everything up. although the whole no click thing has got me.
could be wire issues. ground. have you tired jumping it straight over with a screwdriver ?

I had some jobs to do today (I run a computer repair business on my "days off" from my regular job) and so I didn't get to look at this. It'll be tomorrow night probably. I'm going to try jumping it with a screwdriver and see what happens.

It's funny- when I turn the key past ignition and to the start position, the lights dim, and that's the *only* thing that happens. I'm thinking its either the wire going to the solenoid, or its the ignition switch. I should know when I have some time to get dirty tomorrow evening.