This started out intermittent, but it's consistent now. When I turn the key, I get a brief whirring sound. Occasionally a click from the solenoid. I tried jumping it--no go. The battery's fully charged anyway.

I couldn't short the starter to start it, but the starter runs fine on the bench.

All the rest of the electrical systems seem fine.

 

post a video of the sound your hearing?


the solenoid should click with every start attempt.




you tried jumping what? the starter solenoid to starter or just boosted the battery with jumper cables?


shorted batteries won't work even when boosted. You know the battery is good how? It needs to be conductance tested or load tested to rule it out.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if I can catch the sound. It's pretty faint.

I was just boosting the battery with jumper cables. I assumed the battery was okay because I was seeing 12.7V or more across the terminals.

I was going to try using jumper cables from the battery to the starter terminals in the morning. If nothing happens then, at least I can rule out everything between the battery and solenoid. Assuming I don't have multiple problems, of course...

 

I put it back together and it worked!

Once.

Now the battery's reading 12.4V, so maybe it's a bit low. Otherwise I'm mystified.

 

try swapping the starter relay or checking the voltage/amperage at the s terminal on the starter when someone turns the key to "crank"

 

It looks like it was bad contacts.

I cleaned and burnished the battery and starter contacts, and now it starts every time.