legacycentral bbs

Sorry to get into this so late but I just came across it. I had a similar problem on a "92 Turbo. The problem was deteriorated contacts on the ignition switch. Instead of changing the switch I installed a relay (for headlights or fog lights) using the ignition switch lead from the starter solonoid on the control side of the relay and a lead to the battery positive terminal on the slave side. The ground terminal got grounded to the firewall near the starter. The other slave side of the relay went to the starter solonoid.

I have had no problems since.

Alright, old post but I'm having the same type of problems. Some times the car just won't start and often I hear a click, which I assume is the starter.

1. Already replaced the starter, twice (just in case the first one I got was bad).
2. Replaced the alternator (unrelated to my starting problem).
3. Cleaned the battery terminal posts and clamps with a wire brush tool.

As others have already noted:
A) some times the car will not start on the first try, but then when I turn off the headlights/heater/etc it will.
B) Other times, with all accessories off, it will not start after several tries. Always a few whacks with a heavy object to the starter will make it work again.
C) Some times I notice a delay between when I put the key in the start position and when the starter actually starts to engage.

The only things which are left to replace would be the battery (it's starting to grow white corrosion over the metal clampdown bar) and the ignition switch. I just drove ~550 mi and over the whole trip, experienced the no-start issue several times. My radar detector shows ~14V during highway driving, so I'd think the charging system is fine; and if my battery was dying, I would've have been able to drive down the road or start the car after the numerous stops.

How difficult is it to change the ignition switch?
Could it be the battery is old? Whats the min CCA I should get?

Went and measured my battery voltage (car has been sitting for a day) and it was 12.24V. Looking around online, that means the battery is ~50% charged. I'll go ahead and install a new battery and see if that helps with this problem.