Michael -

Yes, I agree. How can everything seem OK and the starter not even click. Well, BHSOOM. (Beats Honorable S**t out of me, old Japanese saying). My wifemobile is a 1988 244GL, about 150K. PO had put in an AutoZone battery in 1998. It was the newer smaller style, held in with side "feet" on a plastic battery tray.

Cold mornings of late it exhibited the same symptoms as you: All OK but not a quiver from the starter. I took to putting it on a 2amp charge overnight. Worked, until she tried to start it to come home from work on a cold day.

I put in an old-style heavier DieHard I had from a non-op 240 and held it in with a big zip tie. Starts with a single turn every day.

Anyway, the system just seems to work that way. If the solenoid won't click, it's always been the battery. I even replaced the brushes, which helped a while.

Working on the starter is about the very last thing I want to do. I am willing to check, test, rewire, whatever, before embarking on that adventure.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)