Starter Solenoid, I have been through 4 and counting! Options

[ctc911ctc]

1974 2.0 - 24Kmiles
All stock

I received the car in late 2018, pulled from a garage in RI. Sat in the garage since 1986/88

The starter in the car was original. We removed near everything in the car, super cleaned and welded, put it all back together, and also bought a new starter. The new starter would not work right - clicked but no turn - so we put the original back in. Ran great.

Then the original started to fail (seemed like the copper wire from solenoid to motor had degenerated so we bought a 3rd. This one would not work so I returned it and got another. It worked great for a month and now this one clicks but the motor does not turn. Had to jump it with a screwdriver. Which though dangerous - works great!

At this point, over 2 years, I have 4 failed starters. One is 46 years old, the others are rebuilt (2) and new 1.

Which way would you go from here?

Another new OEM? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
Another rebuilt???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)
Put a relay in parallel with the Solenoid? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif)
Get the super fancy Porche High Torque starter? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)
Always park on a hill (facing downhill of course). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[Superhawk996]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) with the two posts above.

Your chance of having 4 bad starters in a row over 2 years is terribly small.

You absolutely need a ZERO ohm connection between the body and the engine/transmission. Also if you have grease and/or corrosion between the starter and the transmission that won't help a bit.

Verify ground 1st before anything else.

If jumpering it with the screwdriver works, then focus 2nd on the Ignition switch and the wiring from the switch to the solenoid.

All the description to me sounds like bad grounds and/or too much voltage drop to the solenoid that is hovering right on the edge of working or not working. Like post above I drove my 1st teener for about 10 years on same starter. When ever I had a problem it was usually a corroded ground. One and only one time, I had the igntion switch start getting flaky and replaced it immediately.

Starters are easily tested with a good battery, jumper cables, and a piece of 10 gauge wire to hit the solenoid terminal with. Much easier to test them on the bench than in the car!