Car won't start? Bad solenoid?

[JDSfastGN]

Well it happened two nights in a row now. My 86 will run fine and I'll turn it off and then it won't start. Its got full power(everything works fine) but there is no sound or click from the starter. The starter won't crank, but the interior lights dim but it does nothing. Well I let it sit overnight after towing it home with a chain, and it started up and drove fine all day, until my dad took it to the store. Well we get a call from him and its done the same thing. Its not the Park neutral switch like I was thinking. Is it a bad solenoid on the starter? Thats what I'm thinking. Its not the battery cables, they are both fine and the car is getting full voltage. Its the original starter with 150,000 miles. Also we get a check engine light thats a code 24, which is bad Vehicle speed sensor (VSS) and I know its in the dash, but where exactly? Thanks a lot guys

 

[JDSfastGN]

anybody??

 

[Kevin Turch]

Try hitting it with a hammer, when it gives you the problem. Mine did the same thing and it turned out to be the starter. When it got hot the selonoid wouldent engage.

HTH
Kevin

 

[TurboDave]

That's generally the way the starters flake out on these cars. They take a lot of heat abuse sitting right next to the passenger side header.

 

[FJM568]

A lot of times it's not even the solenoid, but a dead spot on the armature...Hitting the starter with a hammer while trying to start it turns the armature slightly getting it to a "good" spot and then lets it work right again until the starter happens to stop on that dead spot again...