[Mgs] Starter Issues?

[The Roxter]

On 8/15/2011 12:35 PM, frankk12 at verizon.net wrote:
> My 1980 LE is giving me starting issues. The battery is fully charged but all
> I get is a click when I turn the ignition key to start. I am suspecting the
> starter solenoid. I did change the ignition relay only because I keep spares
> and it is so simple to do but it didn't make a difference.  I do have one of
> those new Hi Torque replacement starters that has been sitting on my parts
> shelf for many years. Has anyone here ever made the swap to that starter? Is
> it a straighforward swap or are there converision issues to deal with? If I
> have to get to the solenoid I might as well replace the starter  while I am at
> it. Is that solenoid rebuildable if I decide to keep it original? Sorry about
> all the questions and uncertainty.
> Frank Krajewski
Frank, there's another rather remote possibility: You might have lead 
oxide on the battery terminals. Lead oxide looks just like lead, but 
it's a fairly good insulator. If the battery is fully charged, but 
lead oxide is present between the terminals and connectors, you might 
have enough connectivity to energize the solenoid, but not enough to 
actually power it. It only takes a very short time to clean the 
connectors and posts with a battery brush.

  -Rocky Frisco --