I think I've finally rid myself of the intermittent start. It seemed to only affect me when it was real wet and/or cold. I think I've had it thru 3-4 winters now, and it always disappears in the warmer months.
Up until this weekend I had done:
-Replacing the contacts "helped" but it eventually returned. Did that approx 4 years ago.
-Replaced all the battery & ground cables with the set from Urban Cruisers this summer, along with a new battery.
Neither had a lasting affect. Lately in addition to some complete no starts, where I had to just wait and keep trying and eventually it would start (sometimes 5min, sometimes 20min). There seemed to be a big delay, I would turn the key, and it would take a few seconds before the starter reacted. And while starting it would tend to skip, or hitch, and then continue to start..
Ron & Toy350's discussion here about increased resistance in the wires or potentially in the solenoid itself convinced me to just bite the bullet and replace the starter/solenoid.. I had Cdan throw in a new ignition switch with the order as well..
So far after 3 days, seems night and day different. Starter fires immediately, and there are no skips or grinds mid start.
Will obviously have to wait and see if the no start situation returns when it gets cold here again, but for those that have had this intermittent start plaguing them, my money is on the solenoid if its not as simple as the contacts, or bad connections/corroded plugs, etc.....
