Intermittant starter failure, Work or break! Pick one! Options

[ammason]

So my 73 2.0L has an issue, but I can't track it down... 95% of the time it's great, but every once in a while, it just won't start. I have power - headlights, radio, etc; and if I push start it it starts up just fine, but 1 parking job out of 20 leaves me with nothing. No solenoid engaging, nothing but the dash lights coming on to let me know I have no oil pressure.

The five or six times this has happened I've been without a multimeter and have needed to get somewhere, so I've just pushed and gone, but it's damned annoying and one of these day's I'll get myself into a situation I can't get out of.

Yesterday I had to push start it in reverse in a parking lot while blocking up traffic. It's a helluva way to impress the chicks, let me tell you...

I'll do my best to test it when it happens next, but am I describing typical symptoms of a part needing to be replaced? Ignition switch? Solenoid? Bueller?

Thanks!

Aaron

[Rand]

True, you can't test until it fails again.

I think a switch or bad connection can be as erratic as any other component.

In the mean time I think you should take jet1's advice. Take the battery cables off and clean the posts and the insides of the terminals. Clean the ground strap connections well. The end that is bolted to the body isn't too bad to get to through the left rear fender if you jack the car up a bit. The transmission end is tougher though.

I just hate to buy parts unless I know they're bad. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

But hey, it's easy to replace a solenoid. I'm curious... I hope you'll post results.