Starter motor woes ???

[professor]

Since I first got the car, every once in a while I would turn the key, and I would hear the "click" get the dimming of lights, but no starter turn-over. I thought maybe the clutch lock-out switch was balking.

Now its gotten rapidly worse, where I have to turn the key over several times. I get the dimming but no turn-over several times, then I'll get a weak turn-over maybe 3 revolutions, then I'll get a normal full turn-over and the car starts.

The battery is a very nice Die Hard, newer, and the charging system seems to work well and tests out 13.9V charging. When I get no turn-over, I have tested the headlights and accessories all at once and all is well.

Either juice is not getting to the starter full blast or the starter itself is shot.

I've never had a starter fail like this, and I have checked all the connections. Is this a strange failure mode or have others had the same thing happen. It doesn't seem like a "dead spot" on the winding, its more like it has to warm up before the juice flows properly.

Any advice before I go digging ?

[Legacy777]

probably the solenoid contacts. Is it an auto. I'd say it's pretty common.

[professor]

5MT.

what soleniod, the starter solenoid to engage the flywheel ? On the weak starts I get right before it starts for real, it engages and turns the motor, but quits after a revolution or two. Maybe it is disengaging but it doesn't sound that way.

If I had an assistant, I'd try the old hammer method--> turn key, nothing happens, hit starter with hammer, starter engages. That is a pretty sure test for a sticky starter motor.

I can try this at work this evening, assistants on hand who like to hit things with large hammers.