Starter Problem - 95 Grand Prix GTP

I'm having an interesting, itermittent problem with starting my 95 GTP.
The odd time when I try starting, I will only get a click (starter
solenoid I assume) and the interior lights will dim, but the starter
will not engage. Usually if I try it again right away it fires up
normally, but the odd time I have to let it sit for awhile before it
will actually. I cleaned the connections along the line to the starter
from the battery in case the problem was that the starter was not
getting power, but the problem still persists. Does this seem like the
starter and/or solenoid are at fault? Or possibly a bad battery? I know
the battery is fairly old and the interior dash lamps dim significantly
when I have the above starting problem. I have other small electrical
issues as well, such as very slow signalling speed, but I assume this
is likely a separate problem and not linked to a bad battery.

Any guesses?

-407

Likely it is a bad ground. I had the same thing not too long ago and
the ground was the last thing I checked but that was ultimately the
issue.


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I assume you mean the ground connection to the starter? In which case
I'll check the ground tomorrow, hopefully that'll pan out. Another
question, what voltage should the battery dip to when starting? I
checked mine, it's at 12.4V before start, ~10V during start, and 14.4V
while running.

-407

rickman05 wrote:
> Likely it is a bad ground. I had the same thing not too long ago and
> the ground was the last thing I checked but that was ultimately the
> issue.
>
>
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> rickman05
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> rickman05's Profile: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...?userid=458980
> View this thread: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=583880
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I cleaned the chassis ground, but couldn't get at the other ground
connection that's connected to the block by the starter. Anyway, I was
able to get a voltage reading when it doesn't start - even though the
lights really dim, the battery voltage only dropped to 11.66V. Since
I've followed all the lines to the starter and back to the battery, and
the battery voltage is at a sufficient level, I guess there's only the
starter left to replace. Does this sound like a good assumption?

-407